2010 Bridges Conference

Mingjang Chen

Artists

Mingjang Chen

Professor of General Education

Center General Education, National Chiao Tung University

Hsinchu, Taiwan

mjchen@mail.nctu.edu.tw

Statement

A new method by using Structural Cloning Method (SCM) and Leaping Iterated Function System (LIFS) to explore chaotic patterns in Landscape Paintings is presented. SCM is a visual interface to define different combinations of geometry transformations and LIFS is an improved version of Iterated Function System (IFS) within SCM. Instead of exponential growing loading while iterating; LIFS takes only constant computing resources. SCM and LIFS together build a bridge between mathematic and aesthetic, and they then make fractals more tractable. Supported by mathematics and digital technology, it is already a breakthrough to draw visual elements. However, it is much more challenge to convey a natural feeling in such a painting without the feeling of mathematics.

Artworks

Image for entry 'Chaotic Landscape Painting'

Chaotic Landscape Painting

22" x 17"

digital print by PowerPoint

2010

Structural Cloning Method (SCM) is a visual interface to define different combinations of geometry transformations and Leaping Iterated Function System (LIFS) is an improved version of Iterated Function System. Instead of exponential growing loading while iterating; LIFS takes only constant computing resources. From the viewpoint of visual design, SCM and LIFS together build a bridge between mathematic and aesthetic, and they then make fractals more tractable. In this artwork, all the visual elements, including mountains, rock, tree, grasses, ripples, fog, etc., are designed by multiple generators in LIFS in a few leaping iterations, following by a sequence of manual geometrical transformations. Some chaotic patterns can be adapted from others, for example, ripples can be adapted from mountain and cloud. However, it is much more challenge to convey a natural feeling in such a painting without the feeling of mathematics.