Computer Art

• 26 hrs lectures
• 26 hrs projects

• 100 pts projects

• Students will acquire both theoretical and applied competence in software aesthetics.
• Students will be able to interpret and evaluate algorithmic works of art.
• Students will deepen creative skills by fulfilling practical graphic assignments.

The aim of the course is to get acquainted with the principles of mathematics and computer science in the artistic fields, to understand theoretical foundations of algorithmic creativity and software aesthetics, to get an overview of applied computer art, to apply practical skills from the field of software aesthetics, realizeand criticize artistic creations with the aid of computer.

The course assumes creative mind, artistic thinking, basic mathematical knowledge, basic knowledge of computer graphics principles.

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1. Towards mathematical art: art in the 20th and 21st centuries.
2. Software aesthetics: visual forms of computer art.
3. History of computer art: from the oscilloscope to interactive media.
4. Aesthetic functions: from sinus and cosinus to the superformula.
5. Aesthetic transformations: repetition, parametrization and rhythm of algorithms.
6. Aesthetic proportions: golden section in mathematics, art and design.
7. Spirals and graftals: models of growth and branching in nature.
8. Geometric fractals: iterated functions and space-filling curves.
9. Algebraic fractals: from the complex plane to higher dimensions.
10. Chaotic fractals: visual chaos of strange attractors.
11. Symmetry and ornament: periodic tiling and interlocking mosaics.
12. Nonperiodic and special ornament: spiral, hyperbolic and aperiodic mosaics.
13. Mathematical knots: knots and braids from the Celts to modern topology.

Creative assignments follow the lecture topics and are realized in a form of non-supervised projects supported by freely available creative applications for each topic. Outputs will be exhibited in the students' gallery.

1. Letterism and ASCII art
2. Digital improvisation
3. Computer-aided rollage
4. Generated graphics
5. Quantized functions
6. Algorithmic op-art
7. Evolutionary algorithms
8. Chaotic attractors
9. Context-free graphics
10. Fractal flames
11. Quaternion fractals
12. Fractal landscape
13. Escher's tiling
14. Islamic ornament
15. Circle limit mosaics
16. Knotting
17. Digital collage
18. Graphic poster
19. Artistic image stylization
20. Generated sculpture

Creative assignments -- up to 50 points (at least 10 evaluated pieces by 5 points):

• 3 points: technical realization and aesthetic quality
• 1 point: exhibition in the course gallery
• 1 point: timely submission

Final project -- up to 50 points (creative graphics application):

• 15 points: concept originality
• 20 points: programming intensity
• 15 points: interface quality

Exam prerequisites:
The final grade corresponds to the points earned during the semester. Students will pass the course after accomplishing half of assignments (50 points). Final project (another 50 points) consists from creating an application for artistic creativity and presenting its creative potential. The application shall be executable on an appropriate platform (Win, OSX, iOS, Linux, Android). Extra points can be attributed for class activity.

The monitored teaching activities include lectures, creative assignments, and the final project in a form of a creative graphics application. Classes are supported by elearning activities in LMS Schoology. Students are responsible for reading and watching provided materials and participating in class discussions.
Assignments are provided in the form of individually elaborated projects. The classified credit has two possible correction terms.

The final grade corresponds to the points earned during the semester. Students will pass the course after accomplishing half of assignments (50 points). Final project (another 50 points) consists from creating an application for artistic creativity and presenting its creative potential. The application shall be executable on an appropriate platform (Win, OSX, iOS, Linux, Android). Extra points can be attributed for class activity.