Orbita Series

BACKGROUND: 'Orbita Series' is an algorithmic design project by Alisa Andrasek under her practice 'biothing.' It was conceived in 2005 and acquired by the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2009 for its permanent collection. In 2018, Centre Pompidou selected the work to be included the 'Coder le monde' (Code the World) exhibition, focusing on the history of the digital code and the way artists have used it since the computer appeared in the 1960s. Andrasek's project was included in a curated selection of computational designs across art, literature, music, dance, design and architecture. Orbita Series was presented as a series of prints of 80 x 80cm in size. Andrasek was the principal designer, with design and computation by Ezio Blasetti. CONTRIBUTION: 'Orbita Series' was designed using the superimposition of 3 algorithms which assume a dual function: on the one hand they establish potential relationships within a given system, multiple and multi-scalar; on the other hand they work directly on the materials they generate and work with. It is part of Andrasek's ongoing pursuit of self-organising and adaptive systems and how they can become manifest at different scales. The experimental approach of this project demonstrates Andrasek's research into the generative potential of computational systems as a new way to design. SIGNIFICANCE: The significance of this work is evidenced by its acquisition by Centre Pompidou and subsequent selection by the curator Frederic Migayrou for a major exhibition. 'Code the world' was the exhibition component of 'Mutations/Creations 2;' resolutely forward-looking, it brought together world-renowned artists, engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs. The exhibition was the second in a larger series - the first of which was 'Imprimer le monde' and featured Andrasek's Xenocells project generated by algorithms and robotically printed. Centre Pompidou is a prestigious international institution for contemporary art, design and architecture.