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Algorithm-Game-Media Art : Wonjoon Yoo

From relations between art and games to the artistic possibilities of games beyond the concept and form, diverse topics were examined. The machine, which was the object of art, has become the subject. And the human, who was the subject of art, has become mechanized and artificialized. With these changes, art deviated from its original function and has a new social significance. Under these circumstances, there is a possibility that games can also function as a medium that expands our perception.

Can recent algorithms-based game properties of artworks become the guidelines of new art?From relations between art and games to the artistic possibilities of games beyond the concept and form, diverse topics were examined. Furthermore, the lecture explored possibilities of artworks created by algorithms.

Does the concept of “outside” work in a game? This question can lead to questions like, “can it exist as a gamefic concept form?” In other words, it begs to ask if an experimental attempt to expand the genre beyond the form of a game is possible. In this lecture, the answer to this can be found in “art.”Duchamp deconstructed the genre and concept of modern art. Art discovered the possibility of such a conception subversion outside the technology, in the immediacy of the medium, and in the errors of algorithms. In other words, modern art found its method for deviation of the creator (subject) by using technology-machine-algorithms.Unlike in the past, we began to define not only beautiful techniques, but also to the various senses or techniques that induce senses like surprise, appealing, sadness and trembling. We can see that through “algorithm,” art is free from being the object of the creator and is able to function as a subject on its own.

Henri Rousseau, <Sleeping Gypsy>, 1897

Algorithmic version of Charles Csuri and Henri Rousseau’s “Sleeping Gypsy”

Algorithms created the machines that create art. Algorithms that were mainly used in computers were applied to art by some artists and mathematicians. And it established itself as a new computer art. These mechanisms have come to either remediate past art or directly create new works of art using the principles of algorithms. This means, art creators of today have changed from humans to machines. If humans used to utilize machines to create art in the past, now machines can create art on their own.

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So, what kind of tasks can be performed using technology-machine-algorithms in today’s games?How about art in games, technology in games, algorithms, and AI? In art, the act of a machine to create a creative act by using an algorithm contradicted the notion of art, which is at the highest form of expression. In other words, as aforementioned, if art tried the subject subversion by using technology-machine-algorithm, where can the concept and form of today’s games that are already algorithms, AI, and program-based be found? Also, where can an attempt to find the “outside” be found?The machine, which was the object of art, has become the subject. And the human, who was the subject of art, has become mechanized and artificialized. With these changes, art deviated from its original function and has a new social significance. Under these circumstances, there is a possibility that games can also function as a medium that expands our perception. Through games, we can experience a new life as a hybrid subject and evolve as another virtual subject. Therefore, it is necessary to consider how these games can change the function of games and evoke various perspectives through activities that go beyond their own forms and concepts.
Reference : Algorithmic Art: Art Generated by Rules. Can It be Beautiful?, [ALICEON], http://aliceon.tistory.com/1674

Wonjoon Yoo (Editor of ALICEON)Wonjoon Yoo received his master’s and doctoral degrees from the Graduate School of Art at Hongik University. He is the CEO of the media art agency THE MEDIUM and the director of the media culture and art channel ALICEON. He is currently working as the artistic director of the 2018 Gwangju Media Art Festival. His main fields of interest include modern art, new media art, and game art, along with the expansion of human experience and perception through new technological media. His publications include “Game and Culture Studies”(2008) and “New Media Art and Game Art”(2013).

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