Inside “Genome of Luck” – Eugene Afonin and Yan Kalnberzin

Talk: Inside “Genome of luck”
In this talk, Eugene Afonin and Yan Kalnberzin will describe how they integrated Python between the genetic simulator, Framsticks, and TouchDesigner for their multimedia installation Genome of Luck, which was produced for the exhibition Orient Express, featured as a special project at the 2015 Moscow Biennale.
For the installation a table was placed in the centre of a room, on which, two virtual organisms could be seen running a race. The organisms for each race were selected randomly from a pool of 30 creatures and were bred with the help of the Framsticks simulator. Framsticks uses genetic algorithms, rigid body simulations, and simple neuron networks to simulate the evolution of a creature with a random structure defined by the fitness function. In this case, the condition of survival for the organism was based on its ability to run quickly for a set distance. The evolution of each racer on the simulator took from one to several days. Before each race started, the evolution of the two participants in the race were sped up and displayed on two separate screens. The viewer was able to bet on the organism they believed would be the fastest by dropping their money in a glass jar placed beside each of the screens.
In this presentation Eugene Afonin and Yan Kalnberzin will discuss the process of rendering, mapping, and designing this interactive installation.

Presenter:Eugene Afonin
Eugene (Evgeniy) Afonin (b. 1983) was born in Moscow. He has worked with video art since 2003, performing as a VJ at clubs and festival venues. Since 2008 Afonin has worked in the field of digital art and new multimedia technologies, interactive design, generative systems, and natural human-computer interaction. His work focuses on designing and constructing immersive interactive environments, as well as kinematic models and specialized object-control software.
He co-founded the Moscow-based creative company Russian Visual Artists. Since departing from RVA in 2012, he became the co-curator of Curiosity Media Laboratory and has worked on more than a dozen theatrical productions as a video and media artist, in gallery exhibitions as well as on commercial projects.

Presenter: Yan Kalnberzin
Yan Kalnberzin is a video and media artist who graduated from the Moscow Institute of Aviation Technology. He was an active artist in Moscow’s underground in the 2000’s as part of the musical group PBOYUL. One of the pioneers of stop-motion animation in Moscow, Kalnberzin created the stop-motion clip “sea lilies” for the band, Kids of Picasso. Kalnberzin was also one of the founders of the company Russian Visual Artists and has participated in many Russian and international festivals including, HYPE, MIGZ, PlumsFest, Abracadabra, and Worldtronic.
Kalnberzin is the creator of video and special effects for numerous theatre performances including Agate Returns Home, The Golden Cockerel, A Doll’s House, and many others. He participated in the Moscow festival Circle of Light in 2011 mapping the festival’s primary facade, the Hotel Moscow. He has organized educational events in Moscow using TouchDesigner.