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George Legrady
Aesthetic & Cultural Perspectives Through Data Visualization
To activate information is to build knowledge. The aggregate processing of dynamically generated data, with resultant output through visualizations allow for a form of artistic experimentation that engages methodologies commonly associated with Computer Science, Social Sciences, Statistics and Information Sciences.
The Experimental Visualization Lab of the Media Arts and Technology Program at UC Santa Barbara explores this question through research and production in data visualization. Since 2005, we have been parsing and visualizing a steady stream of data generated hourly, consisting of the titles of books, films, music, and miscellaneous items checked out by patrons at the Seattle Central Library. We feel fortunate in having access to this flow of data as it makes visible a community’s aggregate interests without bias, in essence allowing the data to “speak for itself”.
The presentation will trace the intersection of data organization and visualization in a number of the artist's projects such as "we are Stardust" in collaboration with the NASA Spitzer Science Center, at the California Institute of Technology (2008); "Pockets Full of Memories" (2001-2007) inaugurated at the Centre Pompidou, and "Making Visible the Invisible" (2005) a public arts commission for the Seattle Central Library, and the Cell Tango (Global Collaborative Visual Mapping Archive - 2007) visual archive exhibited at the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC. These projects consist of visualizations generated by custom designed software that dynamically organize data.
Recent publications:
1 [Sum 2007]. “From Data to its Structure”, article in Network Practices, Therese Tierney, Anthony Burk, eds., Princeton Architectural Press.
2 [Fall 2007]. “Pockets Full of Memories”, GL article in Database Aesthetics, Victoria Vesna, ed., University of Minnesota.
3 [June 2006]. “Des Souvenirs plein les poches: L’installation d’un musée interactif” in Est-ce que l’art a besoin du numérique?, edited by J.P. Balpe, M. de Barros, Université de Paris, Hermes, Paris.
4 [Apr 2006]. “A Few Perspectives on Collaborative Research and Education in Media Arts, Yvonne Spielmann, Jay Bolter, eds. Leonardo 39:2, MIT Press.
5 [2006]. “The Photographic Image Mathematically Modeled”, (article with visual portfolio), VU Fine Arts Editions, Quebec, 2006.
6 [Sept 2005]. “Making Visible the Invisible”, http://www.ichim.org (Bibliotheque National Conference, Paris).