#anders hoff

snek

I like it when artists talk about their process, but Anders Hoff (writing under the name Inconvergent) has gone a step further and released a toolkit, named “snek”. It’s a generative programming system implemented in Common Lisp that composes changes in encapsulated objects (called alterations) that lets Inconvergent build generative processes without having to worry about managing the intermediate state.

It reminds me a bit of parametric geometric operations (such as the CAD-inspired ones used by Tweet 2 Form) and a little bit of Quil’s functional take on Processing, but snek is very much its own thing too. I look forward to seeing what Inconvergent builds with it.

http://inconvergent.net/snek-is-not-an-acronym/

http://inconvergent.net/a-barrel-of-bots/

inconvergent.net

The ongoing generative art projects of Anders Hoff are interesting not just because they’re beautiful example of generative art, but also because of the detailed explanations of their processes and how they were constructed.

Much of the code discussed is on github, but the real value here is the clear explanations and discussion of influences. (Jared Tarbell and Nervous System are frequently referenced) The ongoing essay On Generative Algorithms is well worth reading.

Many of Anders’ projects are made with output to a plotter in mind. I suspect that having the concrete limitations that provides has helpfully narrowed the focus.