Jason Erickson

Jason Erickson, Junior, Department of Computer Sciences

The Origin of Species, A Visualization, February 2009

Digital Rendering on Paper, 17" x 11"

Artist’s Statement:

For a while now, I have been trying to figure out how to merge programming and the graphic arts. currently, I am working on creating images through the processing of literature. For this piece, "The Origin of Species, a Visualization" I processed the full text of Darwin's "Origin of Species" into an image. Each pixel of the image represents a single character of the text. By doing this, I create a compact, visual record of the book which can be re-analyzed to create the text of the book.

Jurors’ Comments:

"This is a unique representation of Darwin’s work and I believe it represents what he saw. Out of a jumble of facts and data, he formulated a theory for everything."

"If you can’t see what is in the picture, then maybe you need to Evolve!"

"An uncommon medium, which works as both an entertainment piece as well as a commemoratory reflection on Darwin."

"A very creative and interesting idea – I wonder if I can squint hard enough to gain some of Darwin’s wisdom?"

"Convergence of book and cover."