Hear The Drawing

In the article “HEAR THE DRAWING,” Japanese composer and sound artist Shojiro Nakaoka discusses his journey into digital art, emphasizing his use of tools like Max/MSP, Processing, oscilloscopes, and plotters to create generative art. He explains how he transforms audio signals into visual representations through vector synthesis and Lissajous figures, producing complex shapes and continuous strokes in real time. Nakaoka’s work is characterized by unique textures achieved using noise models and hatch patterns, reflecting his desire to surprise himself with the results. He draws inspiration from artists like Sun Ra, Nam June Paik, Harry Smith, Jordan Belson, and Cornelius Cardew, and his pieces are part of collections held by notable creative coders and collectors. (blog.objkt.com)

Nakaoka describes his creative process as connecting the amplitudes of stereo sound to an Etch A Sketch’s dials, allowing one to see sound as animation and hear drawings by converting dial movements into audio signals. This approach underscores the interplay between auditory and visual elements in his art, highlighting the fusion of mathematics, physics, code, and artistic expression. His work exemplifies the seamless integration of sound and visuals, inviting viewers to experience the synesthetic relationship between the two. (blog.objkt.com)

This exploration of the intersection between sound and visual art resonates with several digital artworks that employ generative techniques and audiovisual elements. For instance, “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP” by Užupis combines hand-painted elements with HTML scripting to create expanding, organic patterns. The concentric, amoeba-like shapes and vibrant colors evoke a sense of fluidity and movement, mirroring Nakaoka’s use of continuous strokes and complex shapes generated through audio data. Both artists utilize generative processes to transform simple inputs into intricate visual compositions, highlighting the dynamic interplay between manual artistry and algorithmic design.

Similarly, “Complete and Total Synthesis” by Sky Goodman employs a combination of 3D rendering, AI processing, and pixel sorting to create surreal landscapes with vibrant, textured patterns. The artwork’s use of circular forms and pixelated distortions reflects a synthesis of natural and digital elements, akin to Nakaoka’s integration of audio signals into visual forms. Both pieces explore the fusion of organic and technological aesthetics, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between nature and digital abstraction.

In “BALOONIN.CDR” by Sabato, the artist glitches vector data from a CorelDRAW file to create a dynamic arrangement of colorful hot air balloons and geometric shapes. This manipulation of vector data to produce visual disruptions parallels Nakaoka’s use of oscilloscopes and plotters to visualize audio signals. Both artists challenge traditional boundaries between mediums, transforming data into visual art that reflects the underlying structures of their respective inputs.

“Just Keep Moving, That is Hope.” by Sky Goodman further exemplifies the integration of various digital techniques, including virtual reality, Blender, video feedback, and AI processes. The resulting scapes are textured with captures from video hardware and pixel sorted, creating a layered visual experience. This multifaceted approach to digital art aligns with Nakaoka’s method of combining different tools and processes to achieve complex audiovisual outcomes, emphasizing the experimental nature of generative art.

These artworks, like Nakaoka’s, demonstrate a commitment to exploring the boundaries of generative art through the fusion of sound and visuals, manual and digital techniques, and the transformation of data into expressive artistic forms. They invite viewers to engage with the evolving dialogue between technology and creativity, reflecting the diverse possibilities inherent in contemporary digital art practices.

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References

Source Article

https://blog.objkt.com/post/hear-the-drawing

Artworks

1. “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP” by Užupis
   

   

   
   I painted SLOP by hand and the rest was done by an html script

2. “Complete and Total Synthesis” by Sky Goodman
   

   

   
   This Vista was created in Blender and ran through Stable Diffusion, then brought back into Blender to add lighting, texture, etc. Final render was Pixel Sorted.

3. “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP 2 “ by Užupis
   

   

   
   I painted SLOP by hand and the rest was done by an html script

4. “SEMI-GENERATIVE SLOP 3” by Užupis
   

   

   
   I painted SLOP by hand and the rest was done by an html script

5. "[homework]punks.0446” by [homework]punks
   

   

   
   a proud part of the [homework]punks collection, made from real homework. a punk in the [homework]punks_drop_18.

6. “BALOONIN.CDR” by Sabato
   

   

   
   BALOONIN.CDR (CorelDRAW 4 Clip Art) 3500 x 2710 px, .png 2022 Image created by glitching vector data in a CorelDRAW 4 Clip Art .CDR file. // Artwork by Sabato Visconti // www.sabatobox.com // @sabatobox //

7. “Just Keep Moving, That is Hope.” by Sky Goodman
   

   

   
   Scapes created in Virtual Reality and Blender. Textured with captures from video hardware (video feedback and synthesis). Then pixel sorted. Some added details and textures utilize various AI processes.

8. “spin the fun” by dancevatar
   

   

   
   #choreoAi #performanceAi #metatheater

9. “Darwin mini, 2025” by Patrick Tresset
   

   

   
   Drawin Mini, Robotis Generative animation

10. “Code Punk #1248” by Code Punks
    

    

    
    Informations and properties: https://code-punks.art/punk/1248

Keywords

generative, audiovisual, oscilloscope, vector synthesis