Bridges 2025 Exhibition of Mathematical Art, Craft, and Design

John Winston Garth

Artists

John Winston Garth

Computer Scientist

Athens, AL, USA

Statement

I use my computer to search for digital creatures. Imagine growing your own digital ecosystem. The term "computerrarium" describes it well. Conway's Game of Life is just that-- an environment with rules that mimic life's, boiled down to their simplest form: birth, death, and survival. Hidden creatures exist in this environment, finding a balance within the typical randomness. They appear as primal as math itself, exhibiting symmetry and order. This discovery, Doo-dah, is an example of a precise combination of cells generated by software tailored for the job. It blurs the lines between generative art and mathematics. With software as a paintbrush, one can discover beautiful digital companions.

Artworks

Image for entry 'Doo-dah' — Doo-dah
36.0 x 19.0 x 3.0 cm
Digital media
2020
Additional info

I was inspired to search for patterns in Conway’s Game of Life because of my love for its delicate nature. Most patterns devolve into chaos, but within the infinite combinations lies hidden order. Creatures, which appear organic, find a balance within the 2D environment. These creatures are examples of life before life itself! Conway’s Game of Life was devised by mathematician John Conway around 1970. This game is an example of a cellular automaton—a simulation using a grid of “cells” whose rules mimic life. This artwork is a GIF in a digital frame that displays the repeating pattern. It was featured in Siobhan Roberts’s article in The New York Times, “The Lasting Lessons of John Conway’s Game of Life.”