Plato’s Allegory of the Cave offers a metaphor for the limits of human perception. The prisoners in the cave know the outside world only through shadows projected on the wall in front of them. In a similar way, a large language model’s apparent knowledge of the world comes not from direct experience, but from “shadows” in its training data texts that describe things, events, and our conversations about them. Since an LLM cant actually 'see' we might better think of it as a prisoner in a yet another cave or as Kulveit(2023) proposes, a ‘blind oracle’ who only hears the conversations on the prisoners talking about the shadows. Although it is possible to create an LLM which knows nothing of the
Research
Pond brain simulation 1
I have been developing a 'pond computer' or 'pond brain'; based on Stafford Beer's early work in cybernetics, in which he alludes to a pond-brain experiment he is working on but provides no specific details. I wanted to explore the idea of creating an alternative vision of computer intelligence. But what would a pond brain think? Or what would a pond computer do? The project has taken me on a thought journey, meandering between plant thinking, Turing's O' computer Tarot and other Oracular interfaces, and also investigating how AI works. It is incredibly useful to think it through using code and using AI to help me with this.In this patch, we simulated the behaviour of Daphnia as swimming particles. An 8x8
Carbon Cloud Chat
https://carbon-cloud-chat-21c0d88f.base44.app As a thought experiment, I used AI to develop a carbon-aware AI chatbot that actively discourages the use of AI and guides users toward lower-carbon alternatives, or encourages them not to use the AI at all. I have been working on several modules related to UX and sustainability in the digital arts this year, and the ecological impact of AI is a key concern. This is a work in progress, and I will use this app as a point of discussion in my lectures. I am aware of the meta irony here: I used AI (Basse44, with one primary design prompt and 20 further iterations, plus a few hours of testing) to build an AI that advises people not to overuse AI. That
Co Lab Game
I creted this game using p5js.org for stundets, as a fun way of outlining the benifit of turning up to lessons, doing the work and avoiding over use of AI (However I did create this game with help of AI)..
Text scramble effect
Some experiments with P5JS code. https://editor.p5js.org I wanted to create a poster for Dorkbot which had a glitch scramble effect...Alsoi tried to replicate slime mould type visulisations with words..Next step if to make these updateable from a google sheet so we can quickly update the info and presnet full screen for the dorkbot event.
Micro protest workshop
The Micro-Protest Workshop explores the power of gentle protest through small, situated acts of resistance. Participants use a process of ‘diffractive mapping’* to co-create protest signs and slogans that draw on perspectives from ecology, art, and activism. Rather than large-scale statements, these micro-signs give voice to overlooked or more-than-human worlds, transforming protest into an exercise in empathetic imagination. Drawing on Corbett’s idea of gentle protest (Corbett, 2017) and the Situationist practice of détournement (Debord & Wolman, 1956), the workshop uses humour, play, and re-appropriation to show how media objects, even modest ones can disrupt dominant narratives and open space for critical reflection.
Springtails under microscope
https://youtube.com/shorts/vO5B57RXVLM?si=xADWZH7ghxTv58Z3 Progress on generative film composition using touchdesigner. This uses a series of Caches and composite overlay (set to difference) a basic patch but the effect perfectly fits what I was looking for. Very much inspered by the work of experimental cimtograpers (Tschekassky, Smith, Brakhage etc)
Self Portrait (Film stills, Nerf)
States of being
Biokinetic Mantra for the Evocation of the Animistic Matrix
live performance with Maya chowdhry and Chris Gladwin. "This 30min live electronic music performance will feature organic components (mushrooms, moss, terrariums, water) being brought into contact with the ecstatic technology of dance music."I have recently returned to performing live and reawakened a part of my brain that had been dormant for a while. I'd forgotten how much I absolutely love the focus and intensity. The excitement of not knowing what's going to happen, or indeed sometimes wondering what is happening when something completely new emerges. Working with new collaborators has pushed me to explore new methods, leading to a number of fresh works in progress. Last month, I performed with Chris Gladwin and Maya Chowdhryat DVRK MASS II | Sonic Transformations: Ecosystems (organised by
Electronic Music Ensemble at Chorlton Arts FestivalElectronic Music Ensemble at
I performed as part of a line up from SODAs electronic music ensemble (which comprises of students, alumni and staff) at Chorlton Arts Festival, in Wilbraham St Ninian’s Church. I performed again alongside Maya Chowdhry continuing the ‘Biokinetic Mantra for the Evocation of the Animistic Matrix’ project - bringing together bioacoustics filed recording live electroaccoustics, and techno. This involved Darkling beetle larvae and rehydrating moss on hydrophones… Image: Neil Spencer Bruce SODAs electronic music ensemble 5691
Morecambe Bay walk
We were by the tumbling stream.
MOSS IS NOT THE ENEMY
Touchdesigner experiments
This year I started working with Touch Designer https://derivative.ca/. TouchDesigner is a multimedia visual programming environment with a node based interface for “Creative Coding”. I am learning how to combine sensors as control inputs for video and sound, the generative aspects are also fascinating. It is a steep learning curve (with pythonic code to learn along side this). I will post progress here... View this post on Instagram A post shared by Antony Hall (@tonazoid) View this post on Instagram A post shared
Boundary detectors – mosscillator walk
A day of field work, walking and talking with @glassball.studio we walked across a segment of the Peak District national park boundary, connected our boundary detector up to a fence to create a strange radio like circuit (also connected with a bat detectors as signal transducer) we could hear strange sounds emanating from the either. Initially we discovered we could almost perfectly receive Radio 4. With some further tweaking / breaking we were able to get a multitude of voices - “Hello…Hello… “ one said as if speaking to us. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Antony Hall (@tonazoid)
Visit to Art Ecology
I visited the Isle of Wight to find out more about the Art ecology group and their #vertipool project (and generally chat about moss and urban / eco design). They have an Interesting ideology of hyper-local working and employ a methodology that resists consumerist mass production models (many #greenwalls and moss tiles are patented technologies that require energy and are tied into maintenance contracts. Alternatively Art Ecology take more of an open source socially engaged approach, working with communities and training people to help make the pools (which are best made by hands). This hand making approach allows for a greater speed of making and building in complex structural features, nooks crannies and overhangs, that would not be possible with
DYCP – Funding 2022-23
I am delighted to announce I was awarded a DYCP grant from Arts Council England to develop my creative practice, enrich networks and also undertake training. I plan to meet mentors and fellow artists for a series of creative collaborations and conversations. Here are some highlights from the project: Highlights will be posted on this page while a series of posts are listed on the following tag: https://antonyhall.net/blog/tag/ace-dycp/ View this post on Instagram Moss Walk for SPARK artists Network A post shared by Antony Hall (@tonazoid) Now is the Time of Moss 2022 - A series of 10 terrariums created from found materials