Theorizing aesthetics

I have always had an idea of theorizing aesthetics. I believe that aesthetic judgement, though seemingly abstract, can be quantified. And through the discovery of these aesthetics principals, it is possible to programmatically create aesthetic composition through programmatic algorithms. My goal, for this continuing study, is ultimately to create the art generator.

Artists don't like this view of the world. The larger part of the design community, will in fact tell you that designers should be ashamed of themselves if their designs were formed by theory. I, on the other hand, believe that it should in fact be seen as an advantage.

The music communite has created many variants of algorithm-based music generators (http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-camusic/) Artists have long utilize color theories in their paintings. Itten, from the Bauhaus, wrote a monumental book called The Elements of Color on the subject matter. The language of architecture and urban planning was eloquently catalogued in Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language. This book on architecture has in turn inspired four programmers (Gang of Four) to write a book called Design Patterns, which revolutionized the object-oriented programming space. So why is the art and design community so afraid of composition theories?

Education before college

I grew up in Hong Kong, and the education system allows for two focus-path: science or arts. The science track is formed by subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Advanced Mathematics. Most everything else is grouped into arts: history, geography, literature, etc. The arts category seem odd at first, so I formulize the categorization in my way: by the kind of tests given to the students. Subjects that allow you to score an A by answering the only possible answer is Science. Subjects that have a larger range of flexibity in the form of essays, and usually graded subjectively is categorized as Arts.

High school was to be the stepping stone to getting into a great university. In order to achieve the goal, I have decided to go with the path that will allow me to get good grades given equal study efforts. My early education, before I entered college, was thus constructed by a science-biased view.

I never really dream to be a scientist, however. Almost everything that I did in my spare time had nothing to do with science. Instead, they are all about arts. My life was surrounded by music, and I spent most of my time as a pianist for choirs, choruses, ballet schools, etc. Although I was never really good at it, I also tried to draw, sketch and paint. I find the experience very relaxing.

Brian Loube's abstract expressionistic 3d photography + digital art opening

It was a joy to see the work. Very inspiring and wish I had the time to contribute. I'm immediately seeing letterforms through a sequence, tiled to form the alphabets. Given 72frames, a lot of possibilities are possible. Can even previsualize a derivitaor from parents, a la my GaraFurura. Or perhaps airport messages. Gotta go back and look at the 'Dots' again. Very high potential in those.

cigarettes, glass and candles

cigarettes, glass and candles, originally uploaded by seeminglee.

when cigarette smokes become texture on lowly-lit glass.