RODNEY BERRY: FEEPING CREATURES





FEEPING CREATURES is an interactive virtual environment. It consists of a population of artificial organisms called feeps. Music and video are continually produced through the feeps' evolution and interactions. It is driven by an aesthetic based on systems and processes rather than objects and images. Nature-inspired processes develop a diversity beyond the direct intentions of the artist. The artist is offered a chance to step out of the role of God/Creator to become more a farmer or hunter-gatherer of aesthetic experience. The feeps' world is a flat green grid across which the feeps and the camera move. The Participant moves a mouse to steer a virtual camera and microphone across the grid, causing the sound and images to change. Each feep has a sequence of musical pitches forming its chromosome. Feeps choose their mates by comparing musical intervals, then portions of each parent's note list are passed on to the offspring to form a new chromosome or feepsong. Rhythm is passed through the food chain. The result is a continually changing web of inter-layered musical cells, an evolving sonic meta-nature. Feeping Creatures is programmed by Tom Mander, Brian Murray and Ben Ross of Proximity Ltd.


Rodney BERRY

Born: Tasmania, Australia in 1963. Education: Masters degree in Media Art, College of Fine Arts, Sydney. Past shows include TISEA, Sydney, SoundCulture, Tokyo and Sydney , Australian Perspecta, Sydney. Artist in Residence at Proximity Ltd., a Sydney-based software company. Feeping Creatures is a product of this long-term collaboration.

rodney@proximity.com.au
http://www.cofa.unsw.edu.au/research/rodney/feepvid_dl.html