IsoNCA Kunstformen (2024)
This is a tribute to the famous series of prints by Ernst Haeckel. Kunstformen der Natur is more than just a collection of scientific illustrations; it is a celebration of the beauty and interconnectedness of all living things. In the IsoNCA Kunstformen video Alexander Mordvintsev brings static patterns captured in the original series to life with a set of Isotropic Neural Cellular Automata. IsoNCAs are bioinspired computational models that represents a collective of tiny cells that share the same program (“genome”) and can only communicate with their immediate neighbors. They must work together to make decisions needed to build coherent structures much larger than themselves. Isotropy of perception makes the system even more restricted by removing the global reference frame that cells could rely on to coordinate their behavior.
Creativity is often fueled by limitations, constraints, and boundaries. Limitations of IcoNCAs make them find surprisingly organic life-like solutions with patterns developing, growing, competing for space and morphing into each other.