Metallic gel ink on black cotton paper, 10 x 14 in. Set of nine.

“Compliant Mechanisms” is a set of nine abstract, generative paintings created with a robotic pen plotter. The robot follows instructions produced by a generative algorithm that creates a unique output every time it is run. These nine paintings comprise a representative sample of the program’s output.

For this series, I designed several subroutines that combine to create flowing, tentacled forms. The first subroutine defines an individual polygon. The second subroutine connects polygons to create a tentacle. The third subroutine clusters tentacles together, varying their thickness and length, to produce a form. The fourth and final subroutine arranges forms onto a canvas, bending and flexing their tentacles in an invisible current.

This series is available for purchase here.