Ep. 272 - Generative Art with Ujjwal Agarwal

As Scott Adams, an American author and cartoonist says, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” In our today’s episode, we’ll try and understand who is making mistakes and who keeps the art. I am personally super interested in knowing how things unfold in this episode with Ujjwal Agarwal also known as Kala.

Ujjwal is a generative artist whose works explore the intersection of art and technology through the use of algorithms and code. His art is characterized by intricate patterns and shapes that emerge and evolve organically from within the digital canvas. He creates art that is both structured and spontaneous, offering a glimpse into the complex interplay between order and chaos. Drawing inspiration from nature, music, and mathematics, KALA's art invites viewers to immerse themselves in a world of beauty and complexity. Kala has a degree in Computer Engineering from NIT Jaipur and a MA in Computational Arts from Goldsmiths University, London.

We can call Ujjwal a multidisciplinary artist given his work in Design, music, and art. But in today’s conversation, we’ll deep dive into his artworks.

Questions

1. Broad
   1. What is Generative art / design? Because these days, Generative AI is a buzz word, how different or similar it is?
   2. How and where do you classify your style of work? Which genre, category does it belong? You work seems to be abstract.
   3. Can you help us understand the landscape of this kind of work by comparing it with the west or rest of the world? Artists, markets, etc…? - Just a sneak-peak
   4. As per the starting quote, what principles or prompts you use to curate or self critique your work? (Apart from looking good and feeling nice - usually which any artwork is judged)
2. Work
   1. What do you do exactly? How do you make your art? How do you know the artwork is finished?
   2. Your work illustrates a lot of chaos, lines and abstract forms - Do they emerge organically due to the medium and means or you have something in mind before you start? How do you bring order to the chaos?
   3. (Little technical) Which softwares and consoles you use? Which are the applications commonly used for this kind of work?
   4. How do you start an artwork?
3. Philosophy
   1. What the story behind Kala?
   2. What makes you interested in Music and Design also? Do you see a common underlying thread?
   3. What makes you say that tomorrow is made of art?
   4. Why do you think, Kala is black?
   5. What’s the future of art? Generative art according to you? What do you think we can see as artwork in 2050 or 2100 :)

Reference Reading

• https://www.ujjwalagarwal.com/index.html
• https://www.artblocks.io/collections/presents/projects/0x99a9b7c1116f9ceeb1652de04d5969cce509b069/414
• https://themethod.art/collections/ujjwal-agarwal-kala/time-pieces
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ujjwalagarwal/