From the multi-scale fractals in the work of Lorenz and Mandelbrot, to the spiral qualities found in both helical seashells and galaxies, we have long been attempting to understand universal patterns of nature. Such similarities between the micro and macro scales seem to hint at the underlying mechanisms of the universe. Single Cell, Single Sky immerses the viewer in organic forms: derived from the microscopic with a suggestion of the cosmic.

Single Cell, Single Sky features a simulation of the single-cell organism Physarum polycephalum, a type of slime mold known for its ability to solve path-finding problems by leaving a layer of information on the environment for the purpose of communication to itself. For instance, it has been demonstrated that Phsysarum can find the shortest path between two food sources placed in a maze. This is similar to the way a colony of ants can map paths to food using pheromone trails left on the ground.

Physarum can be modeled with a simple set of rules that produce complex behavior. In the practice of generative art, the use of Physarum was popularized by the artist Sage Jenson, and has since entered the canon of complex systems within the generative artist’s palette. Single Cell, Single Sky features a custom Physarum sim that reacts to the viewer's presence in the space and subtly moves to the music.

Bio

Simon Alexander-Adams is a multimedia artist and designer specializing in real-time generative art, interactive installations and audiovisual performances. He is perhaps best known for his daily generative art sketching practice of over six years under the name Polyhop. He is inspired by the emergent patterns found in nature and frequently uses complex systems to simulate natural phenomena in the pursuit of organic textures and surprising interactions. He also draws on a love of fractals and geometry, science fiction and glitch art (the aesthetics of failure.) Simon’s art has been presented at international festivals, including Coachella, Electric Forest, the Ann Arbor Film Festival, and the 2020 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture Shenzhen. As part of the ARTECHOUSE Studio team, he’s created work in collaboration with NASA, the Society for Neuroscience, HARPA (Reykjavik, Iceland), and the Nobel Prize Museum (Stockholm, Sweden.)