Atoms, Molecules, and Compounds: A Conversation with Kazuhiro Tanimoto

For the occasion of fxhash 2.0 launch, Japanese generative artist Kazuhiro Tanimoto is releasing Yuragi, a project that represents not only the interaction and flow of objects of various scales but also Tanimoto’s reflection on human life. fxhash team sits down with Tanimoto to learn more about how his research in chemistry affects his view on generative art, his upcoming project, and where generative art will go.

Yuragi by Kazuhiro Tanimoto is presented in partnership with Volume DAO.

For our audience who isn’t already familiar with you and your past work on fxhash or beyond, can you give us a little background about yourself? How did you come to generative art?

I am a generative artist and chemist working on researching and developing materials based in Japan. I first encountered Macintosh 30 years ago when I was 10 years old. I started by creating icons and then went on to create software and websites. Later, while doing electronic work with Arduino, I became aware of Processing and discovered the world of generative art. I have been posting small works online since around 2018, and have been releasing my work on ArtBlocks and fxhash since I discovered NFT and Art Blocks in 2021.

What motivates you to continue exploring generative art? How often are you surprised by your code and its creative possibilities? Is there anything you feel is entirely unique to your approach to generative art?

For me, the pursuit of generative art has the same aspects as scientific research. I love the process of integrating various fundamental theories and adding my own inspiration on top, and trial and error. I don't mind spending hours, months, or even years on one thing. In fact, I'd love to live that way all the time. I also think generative art and science are similar in that unexpected discoveries can lead to dramatic developments in the process of making hypotheses and testing them. I'm captivated by that feeling of my work or research "jumping up." It is very difficult to achieve an entirely unique approach, but my approach to creating artwork may reflect how I view the world and human life as a scientist and engineer. And sometimes, the training I received as a scientist comes into play in recreating, pursuing, and letting go of something in the process of creating artwork. Other aspects of my work may tend to be figurative rather than geometric abstraction, and animated rather than still images. Although this time, the work is abstract!

I love the process of integrating various fundamental theories and adding my own inspiration on top, and trial and error. - Kazuhiro Tanimoto

Can you elaborate on the concept behind your fxhash 2.0 release, Yuragi?

This work is a representation of the interaction and flow of various scaled elements through explorations in generative algorithms using animation and audio.

"Yuragi" in Japanese means "fluctuation". By fluctuation, we mean not only the variance from the mean of physical quantities but also the spatiotemporal dynamics resulting from the interactions between elements at various levels of hierarchy, such as molecules, cells, organizations, and societies.

The world around us is composed of a vast array of elements, from atoms and molecules to water, organic matter, minerals, viruses, cells, microbes, insects, plants, and animals. These elements form reaction fields, colonies, flocks, oceans, rivers, forests, mountains, clouds, earth, and stars and galaxies scattered throughout the universe. They exist in countless numbers at each scale, and their interactions cannot be ignored. Chemical, physical, and biological interactions occur, resulting in complex phenomena. These phenomena are stirred, collided, reacted, collapsed, extinguished, and multiplied by flows.

Similarly, in the social and mental constructs humans create, such as cities, organizations, societal and economic networks, information on the internet, cultural values, languages, thoughts, and emotions, there exists a similar interplay, leading to complex dynamics.

Fluctuations exist on all scales.

Even seemingly stable phenomena are constantly fluctuating and in flux when viewed on different scales of time or space, and there is no such thing as an unchanging situation. Each element is as small as a grain of sand when viewed as a whole, and no single element alone affects the whole, but is swallowed up by the larger current and fleetingly disappears with a momentary emission of color.

I feel that the lifespan of an individual is also like this.

Subtle alterations and flows are interwoven into everything around us, possessing an unpredictably influential nature. However, this fluctuation can be an opportunity to find beauty and meaning in the uncertainty and chaos of our reality.

Can you talk us through some aspects of the technical and creative processes used for this work?

The creative process for this piece was entirely in code only. I have created several work prototypes that depict swarms but did not ultimately release them to the public. This time, on top of combining the results of some of my previous technical experiments, I found the effect of a huge number of particles in motion without the use of a particle system in an unexpected bug.

By developing this, Yuragi's visuals were completed. I have also been working on generating audio in code using the WebAudioAPI, and have integrated the noise and chords generated by the "fluctuation".

There seems to be a trend in using generative art to imitate nature, whether landscapes, mountains, or clouds. What are your thoughts on that?

I think it is very natural to use things around us as motifs. I love them too. It seems to me that this is not a trend but rather the basis of creativity. I think it is great that artists are using computers to express nature in their own way and explore different possibilities.

How do you see your practice evolving in the context of generative art and NFTs? What future do you envision for yourself as a generative artist?

My specialty is chemistry, but I have been creating digital data since childhood. And NFT has formed a place where generative art can be established as a work of art. I think this is really wonderful. I will continue my exploration of generative art, and I feel that further NFT, blockchain, and AI advances may allow me to expand my range of expression even further. I am not conscious of what lies ahead in my continued exploration, but it is my happiness to continue to do so.

Where do you see this medium going in the next 5, 10, or 20 years? Is institutional acceptance, e.g. museums collecting and mainstream critics viewing generative as fine art, important to you?

Historically, I feel that technology-based art has been a bit distant from mainstream fine art. As someone involved in the field of generative art, I believe that everyone's stance should be different and that it is meaningful for various dialogues and attempts to take place. I personally do not have a strong desire to have the existing art world recognize general art as fine art. Rather, I feel that it is valuable to have a place for the presentation and evaluation of artwork that is separate from the existing art world. Diversification is a basic survival strategy for living organisms. I believe that culture should be the same way. Without being discouraged by the existing art world's evaluation, I think it would be a good idea for those who love generative art, separate from fine art, to develop it to a great extent and expand its recognition in society. However, as a result, it may happen that in the future, museums will collect generative art or recognize it as fine art.

How much do you think about the chain your artwork is minted on? Does it matter to you now, and do you think this will be more or less important in the future as blockchains evolve?

I don't know much about it, but since the chain is the foundation for presenting the work, its future sustainability and number of participants is a point of concern. I don't know what innovations will come along, but it is hard to imagine that they will decrease in importance.

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Kazuhiro Tanimoto is a generative artist and materials research and development chemist based in Japan. He holds a Master of Engineering and a Ph.D. in Engineering. Tanimoto has been creating digital art since the 90s, and has shown his work at various Japanese and international exhibitions, including the Japan Media Arts Festival.

Volume DAO is the first art NFT community for collectors and creators in Taiwan. Since its founding in 2021, Volume DAO has staged many IRL exhibitions and projects to elevate the local community.

View Volume DAO’s curation for fxhash 2.0, Ties.