A Kandid Look at Evoluntionary Art

Kandid is a program for understanding the evolution of graphics. Instead of relying on hand drawn graphics, Kandid grows graphics over time by using genetic algorithms. It simulates the process of evolution by using aspects of sexual reproduction. This includes traits such as crossing over, mutation, distinct populations and a gene database.

The only test of fitness is the appreciation of a particular image by a user. Human selection is incorporated in the sharing of images and the chromosomes from which those images were grown. This produces a system where the images converge to those that are supported by the human observer.

Compared to some simpler experiments in the area of generative art (Evol for example) Kandid is richly complex. Users begin by creating a starting population. From here they can artificially control the process (by preserving images that might otherwise be deleted or forcing sexual reproduction), insert new images and chromosomes created in other simulations, or even clone existing images.

So while it describes itself as ‘evolutionary’ it quickly becomes obvious that this is far removed from natural selection. Humans direct the process of evolution as scientist/gods, artificially manipulating images that would otherwise reproduce without control or direction.