By the middle of this century, mankind had acquired the power
to extinguish life on Earth. By the middle of the next century,
he will be able to create it. Of the two it is hard to say which
places the larger burden of responsibility on our shoulders."
From 'Artificial Life', CHRIS LANGTON
Using genetic algorithms to produce artificial life forms whose form and behaviour are the result of 'algorithmic ecosystem', TURBULENCE develops and examines abstractions of life-like processes, visualised as geometric entities manufactured from a deterministic sets of digital instructions applied millions of times by the computer.
In many ways TURBULENCE is a type of futuristic natural history film made visible through the synergetic combination of mind and machine - a document of a type of life that exists only within the abstract pluriverse of computational space.
Everything develops in a space somewhere between composition and adventure, between chance and destiny, between intent and invention.
Software for the project was written by the artist.
Rendering software was supplied through artistic grant programs
from Wavefront Technologies.
Software, script, animation, music and direction by Jon McCormack.
Animation created on Silicon Graphics Personal Iris and Indigo computers.
With special thanks to Gary Warner. Commercial sponsorship: Wavefront
Technologies, Inc. USA, Pixar, USA, Silicon Graphics Australia.
Video and animation facilities: CIPAG,
Monash University.
Produced in association with the Australian Film Commission.
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Jon McCormack