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August 8, 2011
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The Fractal Universe

Journal Entry: Mon Aug 8, 2011, 1:01 PM
:icontechgnotic:







Is a photograph only a record, something created by a machine?  Can photography ever truly be considered art?  That question seems quaint and laughable these days, but if you do a little research you will find that once upon a time it was a raging debate.  Thankfully a consensus has been reached that the agency of the photographer – his or her eye and critical mind – choosing the subject and manipulating the machine (the camera that is the art instrument) is what establishes photographs as potential works of art when created by an artist-photographer.  Pretty basic common sense, huh?  So why then is there now a debate as to whether FRACTAL ART is truly art – or just something produced by poking patterns into a computer?  Isn't it just really random e-graffiti, a fibonacci button mash?


Here we go again… Hopefully it won’t take nearly a century again before fractal art is recognized as the creative expression of artistic individuals possessing, developing and executing a distinct subset of critical-analytical, emotional, and technical skills in order to create objects that can inspire, amuse, soothe, startle or otherwise engage the mind of the beholder.  It’s art for the new age, and a most welcome new player.







Fireworks by ~JodeciCorrea











My Questions for the Reader





  1. How do you respond to critics who claim that fractal art is too much of the “machine” creating the artwork?

  2. What is the extent of the artist’s human agency that makes a fractal artwork the artists vision rather than just an extension of “the machine”?

  3. Is a background in mathematics or programming something that can greatly aid a fractal artist?







While writing this article I recalled a brief but mind expanding conversation I was lucky enough to have with Ray Kurzweil last year about the coming Singularity and it made me think…



  1. When we are able one day soon to use computer chips implanted in our brains to project purely imagined images onto canvases, monitors or into the air as floating holograms – will this be accepted as genuine artistry … or will these “artists” be dismissed as mere “daydreamers”?


I have only chosen a few pieces of Fractal artwork for this article so I am really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Fractal Art in general and whom you might recommend as some of the more inspiring Fractal Artists on dA.





















Symphonia Of Glass Touchers by =Clepsidras








Since posting this article on Monday

I have had the opportunity to learn quite a bit about Fractal art from the community behind these amazing works of art.   Most inspiring to me were the details around how the pieces are actually constructed and some of the unique history behind the origin of the medium itself.   The Fractal community here on dA is comprised of a very talented, passionate and generous group of people.   Thank you to everyone, who in the last week helped me to better understand this beautiful art form.


There has been incredibly inspiring discussion in the comments below around the questions that I posed to the community.   These are just a few of the deviants who have already contributed to the conversation in meaningful ways.


:icondeceneace:
:iconxadrea:
:iconfardareismai:
:iconkovowolf:
:iconwolvesrus:
:iconoblivionhaze:
:iconfiery-fire:
:iconhattrick321:
:iconlyc:
:iconksouthv2:
:iconxyrus02:
:iconplatinus:
:iconpriteeboy:
:icontehangelscry:
:iconclepsidras:
:iconkateriphotography:
:iconangelknight36:
:iconwhitesidevampire:
:iconlost-angle:
:iconsatania:
:iconspinegrinder:
:icongypsyh:
:iconmkmetalhead:
:icontomwilcox:
:iconserenber6:
:iconlaurenkitsune:
:iconptolemaiosls:


— $techgnotic

















Credits


Writers

$techgnotic



Designers

$endosage
$marioluevanos



Artwork

:iconjodecicorrea:
:iconnmsmith:
:iconjuniae:
:icongypsyh:
:iconcoby01:
:iconeklektiktuk:
:iconclepsidras:










Resources


All content in this post is © 2011, deviantART Inc.







3,791 Comments
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:icondsynegrafix:
Mood: Artistic =DsyneGrafix Feb 9, 2012  Hobbyist Digital Artist
For those interested here is a short list of some Fractal Artist Superstars:
~Len1
*HalTenny
*DorianoArt
*GrahamSym
*covertop99agenda5
*janetino
*MarkJayBee
^n8iveattitude1

To see a great gallery of Fractal Art goto: [link]

--
Founder of XtremeFractals

Please forgive me if I fail to say Thanks for the Fav! I do appreciate every Fav and Comment!
Reply
:iconoohamuffin:
~oohamuffin Nov 27, 2011  Hobbyist General Artist
1. that would be like saying a pencil or a paintbrush or a piece of charcoal does all the work. I say the artist does all thework because they actually come up with the art.
3. probably.
4. if it comes from someone's imagination still, i say it's art.

--
Why do aliens always abduct farm cows? why can't they take goats or sheep or something!?

remember children, a ball python is not the same as a sock.

if to err is human, then is not perfection a flaw?
Reply
:icontyris-stark:
~tyris-stark Nov 27, 2011
As far as question four goes: all art, without exception, is mere daydreams. The "projectors" will just be more obvious about it.

--
"You can't look dignified when you're having fun." - Wes Janson
Reply
:iconimahimonoonna:
=Imahimonoonna Nov 21, 2011  Hobbyist General Artist
I personally think Fractal art is very beautiful. I wish I knew how to do it.
Reply
:iconhetronicle:
~Hetronicle Nov 21, 2011
mmmm ...I just had lamb brains for dinner ...lovely
OK ..some of us have answered these questions to our own satisfaction ...should this be enough ...still, ..it would be amusing if someone could collate all the negative responses to these questions ..c'mon dev-gurus give a look-see eheh
Reply
:icongreattoanui:
~GreatToaNui Nov 20, 2011  Hobbyist Writer
Actualy, as long as it is a picture, it is 'traditional' art no matter how it was made.

<rant>

U SHAMELESS CONSERVATIVES IT IS A PICTURE, IT IS A PICTURE, IT IS "TRADITIONAL' ART. GET THAT INTO YOUR HEADS

<rant over>

any questions?
Reply
:icongreattoanui:
~GreatToaNui Nov 20, 2011  Hobbyist Writer
It is not the machine that makes the art, it just renders it into picture form.
Reply
:iconsracha1713:
Mood: Joy ~sracha1713 Nov 20, 2011  Hobbyist General Artist
I really like photography. It is my second favorite art. Yes, sad art because i also feel that photography is an art. It is the person who takes the photos and manipulates them and changes the way they look. Some pictures i take are of flowers, but seen in another perspective the flowers looks totally different in the photos. Taking picture allow one t pulte the world into something even more fantastic.

--
If the opposite of con is pro, then the opposite of Congress is Progress
The Past is history, the Future is a mystery, but now is a gift and thats why we call it the Present.
Clockwork, Clockwork! What is my DESTINY???
Clockwork is omnipotent (Look it up)
Reply
:iconbohemiannconections:
~BohemiannConections Nov 20, 2011
Haha! This artwork reminds me a Theory of Chaos.
Reply
:iconandreniel:
~AndreNiel Nov 20, 2011  Hobbyist General Artist
How can there be a difference between brushes or your fingers, or a Steinway and tin can beaten with sticks? If it expresses then it’s art! Live in Africa long enough and it becomes clear. So why should a Mac with Photoshop be dubious, or a Nikon? Art = Expression? The means of expression is the artists choice.
Reply
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