The Uncertain Gardener
Mouse Interactive Design
The Uncertain Gardener transformed dynamic numerical data from interactive digital gardening activities into geometric forms. The data were encoded numerically using visual programming algorithms like Grasshopper and coding languages like Python. This process deconstructed sets of interactive or behavioural data, generating instructions for the growth of architectural forms. The project views interactive behaviour as a means of architectural manipulation.
Derek Jarman's Unyielding Spirit Transcends the Forces of Nature
The Dungeness Evolution exemplifies the vital importance of adopting humility and adaptability when confronted with the relentless forces of nature. However, Derek Jarman's defiance surpasses even the might of nature itself. The Prospect Cottage garden is a tangible representation of this ongoing dialogue, infused with a sense of monumentality. As a maverick radical within British cinema during the late 20th century, Jarman's endeavour to cultivate life amidst such a harsh and unwelcoming environment serves as a metaphor for his battle against HIV and the homophobic socio-political climate of the time. His renowned quote, "My garden's boundaries are the horizon," encapsulates his unwavering spirit in challenging the notion of "certainty" and embracing the belief that the seemingly impossible can indeed occur—a testament to the potential for miracles to unfold.
Garden Cultivation and Digital Tending
Watering, planting, pruning, trimming, shifting, and weeding in the garden mirrors a delicate dance of nurturing and coaxing life from inhospitable terrain. This tension, encapsulated in the notion of "the garden as a miracle," resembles the persistent nudging of nature to sustain its vitality. In a unique parallel, these activities resemble the precise movements of a computer mouse meticulously crafting Derek Jarman's garden during a lockdown period when physical site visits are unfeasible. Through this digital engagement, the garden takes on a new dimension, allowing for a virtual exploration and a means to connect with the essence of the space. It is a testament to the resilience of creativity and the adaptability of the garden itself, as it transcends physical limitations to flourish in the realm of digital expression.
The relationship between the ways the cursor might move to make geometries
The exploration began by visualising the processes of tending and withering through the aggregation of cursor data, resulting in the accumulation and decrement of a random cluster of geometries. This initial approach was expanded by manipulating the cursor data and assigning colours based on their values. This endeavour aimed to recapture the essence of the previous garden drawing, seeking to infuse it with the same quality and delicacy.
Different architectural manipulation methods emerged through the creation of various gardens, each governed by distinct rules, yielding radically divergent geometries. These diverse gardens provided me with various tools that hold the potential for application within architectural design. Exploring these different approaches opens up new avenues for experimentation and innovation, offering fresh perspectives and possibilities that can inform future architectural endeavours. To see the final application in an architectural context, please see The Playscape Garden.