System 1: Exquisite Corpse Program

An abstract figure drawn using the exquisite corpse process.

André Masson, Max Ernst, and Max Morise, Exquisite Corpse, 1927. © 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris. Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago.



Exquisite Corpse

Started as a surrealist drawing game, the exquisite corpse has been a playful way for artists to generate combined but random imagery since its inception in the 1930's. The basic premise is to fold a piece of paper into three sections (head, torso, and legs). You then have one person draw the head and fold it over so that their drawing is obscured leaving only lines to connect the head to the torse. The next person draws the torso and does the same, flips or folds the paper so only the last blank section is visible leaving marks to indicate the torso. The last person draws the legs and reveals the finished piece. The resulting figure should in theory be connected but its features and characteristics will be random/unrelated to one another.

For this exercise I have created an exquisite corpse prompt generator for you to experiment with using JavaScript (p5.js). We will first explore the code and then you will modify it to your liking.
















Demo Code

Go to this link to view the code and a preview of the generator:

https://editor.p5js.org/cthompto/sketches/JR1wYqSzb
















Modify

Now that you have gotten an introduction, take the next 5-10 minutes to try and manipulate and code. Try adding new entries, changing the design, or changing the static text.
















Share and Draw

Share your edits with the same group from the first session. Then, using your generators, make exquisite corpse drawings. Everyone should start with a blank sheet of paper and fold it into thirds. Then, start with the top (head) section and use your generator to decide what to draw. Draw the head then fold it backwards to obscure the head being sure to leave guidelines. Pass the paper to a group mate and repeat with the torso and then the legs. Do not look at the previous person's drawing! When finished unfold to reveal your drawings.