Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#1

Post by waru » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 1:08 AM UTC

I know there are a lot of people on here who aren't strictly computer programmers; I think in one post someone described the "hackers" of "hacker news" as "creative, curious, practical, and hardworking people who struggle with the confines of bureaucracy and traditional corporate jobs" (ie people best suited for start-ups). By that definition I am by all means a hacker.

But the thing I'm most passionate about is making images and visuals, ie art (not graphic design or web design). From what I've seen of the "art world" and "fine art," its not the place for me. I feel like I have zero in common with most artists I meet; I like working hard, making things, and learning skills more than sitting around talking about concepts. My friends have almost always been programmers and "techie" types, not other artists or "fuzzy" types.

So I was wondering if anyone else here is an artist or creator or whatever you wanna call it. I'd be interested in hearing how you balance your expressive side with your rational, non-BS hacker side, and in what kind of career you're pursuing.

The only solution I've been able to come up with is starting my own company where I'm in charge of the art side of things (ie a video game company that requires graphics and what not).

If any of this rang a bell for you, feel free to send me a message. Thanks.

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#2

Post by Detrus » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 1:24 AM UTC

I used to make pretty pictures. The work from years ago:

http://detrus.nivr.net/ http://detrus.nivr.net/space/thumbfolio/AS2.html

Back in 2003 I was inspired by the likes of http://www.flight404.com and gmunk (who recently worked on the tron2 movie http://jtnimoy.net/workviewer.php?q=178). I became a regular designer/production monkey for a while, before getting serious about programming, trying a UX A/B template startup.

There's a lot of programmer artists in the http://processing.org/ and open frameworks world. Probably a bigger movement there than the no-code digital art movement of the early 00's, which flight404 was also part of.

I heard one guy talk about a studio job doing processing style exhibitions, mentioned it doesn't pay a lot. Flight404 popularized the trend and had/has a hard time making money from it.

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#3

Post by zafka » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 1:39 AM UTC

I have been playing this game for over 15 years now. I am very close to shutting down a very nice Gallery that I have nursed along for about 10 years. But... I feel it is only an intermission. Feel free to give me a yell, I will fill you in on the gory details.

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#4

Post by waru » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 1:41 AM UTC

Detrus wrote: post #2

I used to make pretty pictures. The work from years ago: http://detrus.nivr.net/ http://detrus.nivr.net/space/thumbfolio/AS2.html Back in 2003 I was inspired by the likes of http://www.flight404.com and gmunk (who recently worked on the tron2 movie http://jtnimoy.net/workviewer.php?q=178 ). I became a regular designer/production monkey for a while, before getting serious about programming, trying a UX A/B template st…

Thanks, I appreciate all the links and information. Flight404 looks really neat.

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#5

Post by stratospark » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 2:05 AM UTC

Detrus mentioned Processing and openFrameworks. Basically programming languages for visual artists.

Also Maker Faire for artsy DIY and hardware stuff: http://makerfaire.com/

Zer01, a Bay Area art/technology network: http://zero1.org/

I volunteer for those last two, send me a message if you're in the Bay Area and want to chat! I'm definitely a techie software engineer, but I'm fascinated by art, good design, and grand ideas about anything =)

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#6

Post by waru » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 2:09 AM UTC

stratospark wrote: post #5

Detrus mentioned Processing and openFrameworks. Basically programming languages for visual artists. Also Maker Faire for artsy DIY and hardware stuff: http://makerfaire.com/ Zer01, a Bay Area art/technology network: http://zero1.org/ I volunteer for those last two, send me a message if you're in the Bay Area and want to chat! I'm definitely a techie software engineer, but I'm fascinated by art, good design, and grand…

Thanks, I'm not in the Bay Area now but planning to move there in the next year. I'll definitely be looking more into both of those.

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#7

Post by thesystemis » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 2:36 AM UTC

I like the fuzzy and the techy. I am an artist who works with code, and creates performances, installations, etc. I find it helpful to construct projects that have a good balance of different skill sets - engineer, artist, craftsperson.

I'm also big advocate for the idea that art is a kind of research, that artists are researchers just like scientists, ie, the same way a car company would have an R&D department thinking of future cars, artists are a kind of R&D department for humanity thinking of possible futures (and ways of understanding our present).

Some links to my work

http://thesystemis.com http://eyewriter.org http://yesyesno.com

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#8

Post by waru » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 4:30 AM UTC

thesystemis wrote: post #7

I like the fuzzy and the techy. I am an artist who works with code, and creates performances, installations, etc. I find it helpful to construct projects that have a good balance of different skill sets - engineer, artist, craftsperson. I'm also big advocate for the idea that art is a kind of research, that artists are researchers just like scientists, ie, the same way a car company would have an R&D department think…

I had never thought about it in exactly that kind of way, of artists being researchers just like scientists, but I have to say I totally agree. Thanks for the links; Lights On! was mesmerizing.

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#9

Post by MaysonL » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 8:32 AM UTC

Takeshi Yamamiya at VPRI is pretty good at both art and programming: see his page http://metatoys.org/propella/en/

Re: Ask HN: Hacker Artists?

#10

Post by waru » Tue, Apr 12, 2011, 8:51 AM UTC

MaysonL wrote: post #9

Takeshi Yamamiya at VPRI is pretty good at both art and programming: see his page http://metatoys.org/propella/en/

That's funny, I'm in Kyoto now and just saw his "Eggs of Moebius" on Youtube. Thanks.