Generations #240/2,287

Generations comes as an introduction to open-form, a new genre of generative art that's inspired by Darwinism and natural selection. This collection focuses on exploring open-form through the lens of the very concepts that inspired its creation.

The first generation of organisms receives DNA that is slightly mutated with each new generation. Mutations might introduce new and interesting behavior, or, true to nature, defective ones. However, in nature, survival of the fittest dictates which genes are passed on, whereas in open-form, selection is effected by humans via a large-scale social exploration of algorithms.

I started to work on this project alongside the design of the FXH Protocol, and the two greatly influenced each other. I'm quite excited to see how you will explore this algorithm but am even more excited to see how artists will explore open-form as a new medium.

While I've been working on this project for many months, it hasn't yet reached its final state. Because the FXH Protocol allows artists like myself to upgrade project code, I'll slowly bring in my ideas over time to keep pushing Generations to new places.

This project is meant to be executed, not enjoyed for its static outputs.

Organisms are grown using graph permutations applied to an initial graph with a single node linked to itself. This concept was borrowed from Wolfram's Physics Project.

Example:

• permutation rule: {{x,y},{y,z}->{x,y},{y,w},{w,z}}
• {{0,0}} -> {{0,0},{0,1},{1,0}} -> {{0,0},{0,2},{2,0},{0,3},{3,1},{1,0}}

These rules are encoded in the DNA of organisms, with other instructions encoding how cells look, their activation bytecode, etc... During the growth process, these instructions are executed and shape the organism. At the end of the growth process, nodes become cells and links to other cells become liaisons with spring forces.

Cells activate at each tick by executing the activation bytecode in their DNA. This bytecode executes instructions which can have various effects: manipulate the cell memory, actuate their springs, eat nearby food, etc... and send signals. Cells interact with other cells with which they have a connection by using chemical signals. The signals can vary in energy based on the cell activation. Other cells may react or ignore received signals based on their activation as well.

Each generation mutates the DNA (growth & activation) of its parent, which affects the shape and behaviour of the organisms.

Other systems live in the environment and interact with the cells in various ways.