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Breaking Point

Eric Ayotte and Etan Ilfeld

8 October until 14 November 2009

PV: 7 October, 7 - 9pm

Breaking Point explores the meta and microcosmic synthesis of computer-creativity, mathematics, optics, art history and painting. It relates to riots, tear gas and general societal conflicts within a landscape. At any given point in society when equality or injustice reaches a certain point there is a universal language or action that occurs. This exhibition references many of the global protests that have been documented within the contemporary mediascape. 

Surrounding the concept of a breakthrough in society as well as the moment at which a painting is broken apart and what that signifies when thinking about ‘process painting’. Ilfeld and Ayotte’s creative process incorporates Stephen Wolfram’s New Kind of Science methodology by testing aesthetic-algorithms, and processing and juxtaposing media images unto 2-D Cellular Automata in Mathematica. Their production more closely resembles the futurist paintings of David Bomberg or Giacomo Balla than the process painting and conceptual framework from which they are derived. As a result, their work is ‘neo-futurist’. The machine becomes an integral element of the creative process itself, and generates the emergence of artistic modes that would have been impossible prior to computer technology. 

Etan Ilfeld double majored in mathematics and physics at Stanford University, and has since added to his eclectic education a masters in film studies from the University of Southern California, and a masters in interactive media from Goldsmiths, University of London. Ilfeld is the founder of Tenderpixel Gallery, a cutting-edge idea-driven contemporary art gallery. He is particularly interested in the intersections of art, technology and media. Ilfeld’s movie-generating New Kind of Cinema programme also utilises 2-D Cellular Automata and has recently been featured and archived in Rhizome’s ArtBase: New Kind of Cinema at Rhizome.org. 

Eric Ayotte is based in New York City. Recent work has been shown in Paris (Gallery Suty, 2007), New York (White Box Gallery, 2007; WORK Gallery, 2009) and California (Rock Paper Scissors Gallery 2008). Eric is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (BFA 2002) and Goldsmiths College University of London (PGDip 2003, MFA 2007).