Crank of Life
This work references one of the most famous concepts in cybernetics: the game of life, designed by mathematician John Conway. It consists of a set of rules that will make an initial random pattern evolve over time, creating endless combinations of new patterns that can merge, die, or change shape. It spawned a new category of algorithmic simulations named cellular automata. The game has a hypnotic feature which allows it to be watched looking for chaos, stabilizations, repetitions.
My installment of the game of life also uses the low energy chips used in Photosynthesis, except with a faster display that needs constant energy. To put the system in motion, the visitor must activate a hand cranked dynamo. Life in the small screen will evolve as long as the crank is in movement. Every time it stops and starts again, a new random initial configuration is created, which in turn evolves into infinite possibilities.
