System 0: Rulesets - Human Drawing Machine
Sol LeWitt, Wall Drawing #95
There is a really interesting project to execute these drawings in the browser that can be found here:
Many artists have created works that are rulesets, directions, or scores. The idea behind many of these works is that the artist becomes the composer of the artistic action but leaves the execution of the work to someone else. Rules can vary in complexity and clarity and that variance is often a very carefully considered aspect of the work.
Computers now often take on the role of interpreting our rules/intentions into outputs. However it is important, I think, to remember that the term “computer” only came to refer to the technological device over the past 75 years or so and that before the 1930s/40s, the term computer referred to a human whose job was to do calculations. Human computers by the mid-20th century were almost exclusively women as companies were able to pay them less than male counterparts. I mention this here because I think it is important to understand that the ways we conceptualize technology as separate from the human is false and further, the ways we conceptualize technology as masculine field is shaped by patriarchal power structures that had kept women out of decision and design spaces and relegated to the occupation of computer.
We are now going to take on the role of computer and programmer in a drawing exercise.
Following Rules
Grab a blank sheet of paper and something to draw with (or a digital equivalent).
Step 1
Divide the document into 3 roughly equal spaces using two lines.
Step 2
In the first space draw 4 circles
Stop drawing
Step 3
In the second space draw 4 circles with each circle overlapping at least 1 other circle.
Stop drawing
Step 4
In the final space, draw the following:
- 4 circles of equal size with the following rules:
- Each circle must overlap at least 2 other circles.
- Each circle should fill about one quarter of the final space.
Stop drawing
Making Rules
Now that you have practiced following some drawing rules, get into groups of 3-4. Once in your group, take 2-3 minutes to come up with a set of drawing rules. Each person should make their own set of rules. The rules can be whatever you want but keep in mind that people will only have 1-2 minutes to complete their drawing. So rules like “draw 4 quick cats” might work but a rule like “draw the Paris skyline” would be too complex. Have a set of at least 3 rules.
Now that each person has a ruleset, take turns making drawings from the rules. One person will share their ruleset with the group and the other folks all make a drawing using those rules. Repeat until each person has shared the rules and each person has made a drawing using each ruleset.
Share the results! Ask yourselves the following:
- Did the drawings for my rules turn out as expected?
- Was it challenging to understand other people’s rules?
- Hope might this practice work in a different medium?
Adding Chance
Now that you have made a ruleset, get out your random number generating device. Revise your rules to incorporate the random numbers. An example might be revising “draw 5 baseballs” to “roll a 6 sided dice and draw a number of baseballs equal to the result”. You can make minor changes or totally change your rules. The end result will be a set of at least 3 rules each using randomization.
Now that each person has a revised ruleset, take turns making drawings from the rules. One person will share their ruleset with the group and the other folks all make a drawing using those rules with each person generating their own random numbers. Repeat until each person has shared the rules and each person has made a drawing using each ruleset.