Over more than a decade, I’ve been working on transient forms that elude a finite description as they are constantly “becoming”, like clouds. This one here is a recording of an infinite live simulation, endlessly recalculating new states based on previous ones. It never is the same. What you see is a momentary state that will never occur again. This complexity does not result from sophisticated purposeful algorithms but rather very simple elements: geometry and physical forces, very much like the configuration found in the universe.

After reading James Bridle's “Ways of Being” I realised that the term ‘intelligence’ can be opened up further than to animals, plants and fungi: for example to physical processes like this one. This piece is simulating what is now a common hypothesis about the emergence of life: amino acids forming spontaneously by way of mere topology (minerals in the shape of washed out cavities) with basic atoms and molecules swirling about and clumping together in myriad ways in the fluid dynamics of water.

Any process that brings about complexity or new forms is inherently intelligent.

Coming from architectural design, computational form is a key focus in the visual work of ZEITGUISED. I am specifically interested in transitional shapes, forms that lack a finite definition, forms of “becoming” or in other words, forms that are constantly changing and therefore point to the specific “momentness” of reality.

The present installation is a dynamic setup in 3D simulated space. It consists of a few basic elements connected by a minimal set of simple rules, all calculated live on location, in real-time. The result is a complex and ever changing form, a dynamic cloud or swarm, without inherent programmed swarm behaviour or any other "purpose". An adapting, intelligent presence with emergent behaviour as a result of simple geometry and forces, and not an inherent presumed intention. To question our human idea of what intelligence is and whom we share it with on this planet.

Jitterbuggin’ also represents ZEITGUISED’s first infinite live simulation exhibited in public, in a group exhibition earlier this year at @Lobeblock Berlin with the experimental conceptual design studios JuengerKuehn, Sofia Souidi, Opblaashelicopter and MeyersFuegmann.

Media Technology by the fabulous @ICT_AG