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Recognizable Earthly Art ?

Recognizable Earthly Art ?. Carlo H. S é quin EECS Computer Science Division University of California, Berkeley. The Question. Which of the artworks produced by the human race might be recognizable as “ART” by some future visiting foreign intelligences ?. Is It Art ?.

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Recognizable Earthly Art ?

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  1. Recognizable Earthly Art ? Carlo H. Séquin EECS Computer Science Division University of California, Berkeley

  2. The Question Which of the artworks produced by the human race might be recognizable as “ART” by some future visiting foreign intelligences ?

  3. Is It Art ?

  4. Sometimes “art” is indistinguishable from its surroundings

  5. Is this “Art” -- Is this Special” ? • YES – if it was done by your own child !

  6. Another “Special” Drawing • Medhia Mahmood, age 5, Gainesville, VA

  7. Why are These Paintings “Special” ?

  8. Is This “Special” ? • They were painted by an Elephant in Thailand

  9. Is This “Special” ? • YES – painted by a robot

  10. “Robotic Action Painter” • and its inventor / designer: Leonel Moura • studio@leonelmoura.com

  11. Painting by “Robotic Action Painter”

  12. Is This “Special” ? • YES – painted by someone famous • YES ! – done by Jackson Pollock

  13. Is this also “Special” ? • Perhaps … – believed to be done by Pollock

  14. Is This “Special” ? • NO – just a piece of a lab coat • Not really! – done by an on-line applet !

  15. Pollock Generator • http://a.parsons.edu/~can/code/intro.html

  16. Now also as an iPhone Applet

  17. Importance of Background Information • Background Knowledge is often the only reason why something is considered to be – “art” – or valuable – or at least “special” But what if no such information is available ? Then the artwork/artifact has to speak for itself …

  18. Little Background Available • True for our most ancient known art pieces

  19. Cave Paintings 30’000 years old

  20. Little Background Available • True for our most ancient known art pieces 25’000 years old Discovered 1908

  21. Was there a conscious mind at work to shape this stone into a tool ? Is This Something Special ? 300’000 years old • Archeologists debate whether this modified stone was meant to represent a woman.

  22. SCIENCE VOL 323, Feb. 6, 2009 77’000 years old

  23. Our Question -- Again By looking back we can gain some insightsof what it might be like for future intelligencesto puzzle over artifacts left by today’s civilization. Which of the artworks produced by the human race might be recognizable as “ART” to some future visiting foreign intelligences ? First of all, our “art” must be able to survive!

  24. Whirled White Web Breckenridge 2003

  25. 12:40 pm -- 42° F

  26. 12:41 pm -- 42° F

  27. 100’000 Year Doomsday Scenarios • Some virus wipes out almost all of mankind( as in George R. Stewart’s “Earth abides”). Civilization, as we know it, disappears. • Giant volcanic eruption covers everything with many meters of ash. • Some man-made stupidity destroys our habitat.

  28. Today’s New-Media Art & Installations Some Things That Will NOT Survive: • Magnetic Tapes • CDs and DVDs • Books and Journals • Unprotected Paintings

  29. More Stuff that Will Not Survive:

  30. 100’000 Years in the Future • Only inorganic materials survive • All museums have caved in • Most written / printed information is lost • Tapes, CDs, DVD’s are all unreadable • No background information available ! What objects can speak for themselves ?

  31. Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,What Makes an Object “Special”? • It must stand out from its surroundings

  32. Something that Stands Out • Big stone structures in a flat landscape

  33. Nothing Special . . . • Just some dirty sidewalk with typical 20th century junk

  34. A Precious Instrument … …with a sensible cover (Joseph Beuys: Center Piece)

  35. Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,What Makes an Object “Special”? • It must stand out from its surroundings • Should not look “accidental”

  36. “Unfinished Construction Site” • Another installation by Joseph Beuys

  37. A Manufacturing Mishap ?

  38. Why could the walls not be made straight ? Richard Serra

  39. Richard Serra: Torqued Ellipses

  40. Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,What Makes an Object “Special”? • It must stand out from its surroundings • Should not look “accidental” • Should exhibit a plan, conscious thought

  41. Clearly a Special Design • Nazca Lines in Peru

  42. Art or Wallpaper ? Drawings by Sol LeWitt

  43. Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,What Makes an Object “Special”? • It must stand out from its surroundings • Should not look “accidental” • Should exhibits planning, conscious thought • Appears to require some special skills

  44. How Did They Build This ? Only a few thousand years ago,and we already have trouble figuring out how it was done

  45. Anybody could do this … Richard Serrra: Lead Piece, 1968

  46. How Did They Build This ?

  47. Among the Artifacts that Do Survive,What Makes an Object “Special”? • It must stand out from its surroundings • Should not look “accidental” • Should exhibits planning, conscious thought • Appears to require some special skills • Other . . .

  48. Missing Background Information . . . will lead to misinterpretations !

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