Le Random

This is Part I of our Deep Learning Series where Le Random's editor-in-chief Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) speaks with the most relevant figures in deep learning art. In this first installment, Peter speaks with two of the earliest artists to engage with the intersection of art and deep generative models, Tom White (dribnet) and Gene Kogan.They explore the artistic, philosophical and cultural implications of GANs and deep generative models, drawing on the artists' early experiences and perspectives in the field . The conversation touches on the origins of their interest in GANs, the evolution of AI and its perception, critiques of AI art, the nature of machine representations, and the connection between AI and decentralization.Chapters

In this conversation, the Le Random team reflects on a noteworthy start to 2025 in digital art. Host Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) is joined by thefunnyguys (CEO) and Conrad House (Collection Lead).

In this episode of the Le Random podcast, host Peter Bauman (Monk Antony), our editor-in-chief, coordinates a discussion on coordination. He is joined by very special guests Mitchell F Chan, Operator's Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti, matto from Material Protocol Arts and maltefr.The conversation explores both the contrasts and connections between these seemingly opposing emerging camps, reaching at the very heart of why artists choose to work on Ethereum—straight from the protocol's leading thinkers and practitioners.

In Part 3 of our Digital Curators Series, host Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) interviews Tate Modern's Val Ravaglia, a display specialist and the curator of Electric Dreams, Tate's major historical digital art exhibition which runs until June 1, 2025. Ravaglia is Curator, Displays & International Art at Tate Modern. Her curatorial work has focused on display for over twelve years. In addition to curating Le Random's exhibition of the year, Electric Dreams, Ravaglia assisted on Tate's complete collection rehang in 2016. The conversation covers the complexities of digital art display from a major museum perspective. Links: Chapters

In this conversation, the Le Random team reflects on a whirlwind 2024 in digital art and looks ahead to 2025. Host Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) is joined by thefunnyguys (CEO) and Conrad House (Collection Lead). Chapters

In this special Le Random artist conversation—hosted by Peter Bauman (aka Monk Antony), Editor-in-Chief of Le Random—we turn our attention to one of the most exciting shows of the year, Tate Modern's Electric Dreams. Peter is joined by three extraordinary exhibiting artists that exemplify the aims of the show: Rebecca Allen, Analívia Cordeiro & Eduardo Kac. Conrad House, Le Random's Collection Lead, co-hosts the talk. "One of Tate Modern's most ambitious exhibitions to date," Electric Dreams is a major historical exhibition on the roots of new media expression celebrating "the early innovators of optical, kinetic, programmed and digital art." The artists reflect on their pioneering contributions to the major show, while sharing firsthand their experiences with the historical challenges and overdue recognition of digital art. Read from the show's curator, Val Ravaglia, with Peter.

In this conversation, Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) interviews Regina Harsanyi and Jon Ippolito, two digital curators and experts in digital art's preservation. Harsanyi is the Associate Curator of Media Arts at the Museum of the Moving Image and an independent advisor on preventive conservation for variable media arts. Ippolito is a new media artist, writer and former curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. He is also a professor of new media at the University of Maine, where he founded the Graduate Digital Curation Program. The conversation covers the complexities of digital art preservation, especially concerning blockchain and AI-based works. Links: https://transfergallery.com/data-trust/ https://dweb.grayarea.org https://DigitalCuration.UMaine.edu Chapters [00:00:04] Introduction to Digital Preservation [00:01:50] The Financial Reality of Digital Preservation [00:05:25] Industry-wide Challenges in Preservation [00:10:52] Variable Media: Why Preservation Matters [00:14:22] Legacy, Ethics, and Artistic Intent in Preservation [00:27:12] The Role of Museums and Institutional Standards [00:38:30] Blockchain Robustness as Storage Mechanism [00:43:15] Copyright Challenges in Blockchain-based Art [00:54:30] Strategies for Digital Preservation [01:04:02] Digital Conservation's Component Parts [01:13:40] Educational Resources for Collectors and Artists

In this conversation, Peter Bauman (Editor-in-Chief at Le Random) interviews Douglas Dodds, a longtime Senior Digital Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and a pivotal figure in the preservation of digital art. The discussion covers the challenges of collecting digital art, including sourcing, preserving and showcasing these works in a museum context. Dodds shares insights into the process of acquiring digital art, from identifying valuable pieces to navigating relationships with artists and galleries. He also reflects on the unique historical significance of the V&A's collection, which spans early computer-generated works to contemporary digital media, emphasizing the importance of context in building a cohesive and enduring collection. The interview delves into the role of donations, the complex value of digital art beyond financial metrics, and the delicate relationship between institutions and new digital mediums like NFTs. We get a museum perspective on the concerns of our community.

In this special Le Random artist discussion—hosted by Peter Bauman (aka Monk Antony), Editor-in-Chief of Le Random—we cover the upcoming Electric Op exhibition at Buffalo AKG. Our guests include four of the most influential voices in digital expression over the past two-three decades: Cory Arcangel, Joan Heemskerk, Tali Hinkis, and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Joining Peter is co-host Conrad House (aka Nemocake), Le Random's Collection Lead. Each artist reflects on their unique practices and contributions to the Electric Op show, which bridges op art and digital media. We explore how their art interacts with technology's aesthetic, cultural and historical dimensions.

In this Le Random discussion we are so pleased to speak to a scholar of art history in Dr. Nancy Perloff from the Getty Research Institute. She joins Le Random's editor-in-chief Peter Bauman. Perloff recently curated Sensing the Future: Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.), showing at the Getty Center as part of PST Art. The pair explores E.A.T.'s influential role in merging art, technology and engineering, a movement founded in 1966 by Bell Labs engineer Billy Klüver and artists like Robert Rauschenberg and John Cage. Dr. Perloff shares insights on E.A.T.'s success, including as an early digital art network, as well as its collaborations between artists and engineers (mostly from Bell Labs). This included performances like Nine Evenings: Theatre and Engineering and immersive experiences at the 1970 Osaka World Expo's Pepsi Pavilion. They touch on curatorial challenges, EAT's experimental nature, its role in building interdisciplinary networks, and its lasting, yet underappreciated, impact on art and technology.

In this Le Random Generative Art Timeline Artist Discussion, hosts Peter Bauman (Monk Antony), Conrad House (Nemocake) and thefunnyguys welcome four of this decade's most prominent voices and builders: Lauren Lee McCarthy, Erick Calderon, Itzel Yard and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. The artists explore themes like the rise of AI, NFTs, and the increased institutional interest in digital art, proposing names for the decade such as the "Normalization Era" or "Digital Dramaturgy Era." McCarthy and Lozano-Hemmer discuss the dual nature of technology, highlighting both its empowering and its potentially oppressive aspects, while stressing the importance of community and critical engagement. Erick Calderon and Itzel Yard emphasize the positive communal and creative impacts of digital platforms like Art Blocks and the significance of making art accessible through modern technology. We conclude with reflections on the growing acceptance of digital art by institutions, the importance of preserving digital art, and the powerful role of art in understanding and navigating contemporary life. Chapters: [00:00:05]: Introduction to Final Chapter Release Discussion [00:02:01]: Future Timeline Discussions and Cross-Generational Plans [00:03:39]: Generative Art Timeline's Completion and Future Plans [00:05:21]: Themes of the 2020s in Digital Art [00:07:07]: Introduction of Guest Artists and Their Achievements [00:10:03]: Naming the0s Decade in Digital Art [00:17:34]: Participation's Role in Digital Art [00:28:20]: Artists' Perspectives on Technology and Art [00:51:51]: Positive Trends in Digital Art and Museum Engagement [01:01:42]: Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

This is Le Random's discussion following the release of Chapter 9 of our Generative Art Timeline, which covered the decade of the 2010s. Le Random's Peter Bauman (Monk Antony), editor in chief at Le Random is joined by co-founder thefunnyguys and Content Lead Conrad House. Our guests today are some of the artists and thinkers who lived art history in the 2010s. They are Tyler Hobbs, Helena Sarin, Rhea Myers, and Gene Kogan. Join us as we discuss digital expression in a decade of major trends such as AI's rise and the invention of NFTs.

Algorithmic and digital art founder Frieder Nake joined Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) to continue their chat after the release of "Frieder Nake on 'Machinic' Miracles" at Le Random Editorials. Chapters: [00:00:29]: Introduction to Frieder Nake and his contributions to digital art [00:02:32]: Computers and the concept of quality vs quantity [00:03:26]: Quantity turning into quality [00:05:31]: Pattern recognition and discovery of new quality [00:07:07]: Connection to Max Bense's Generative Aesthetics [00:09:13]: Intuition versus machine randomness [00:12:15]: Creativity, emotion and the role of intuition [00:24:53]: AI and human choices in art [00:38:23]: Alienation and creativity in artistic expression

In our chat, "Art & Code in the 2000s," from May 14, 2024, a panel of the decade's leading figures joins ⁠Peter Bauman⁠, ⁠Conrad House⁠ and thefunnyguys from Le Random. They share their diverse perspectives on the 2000s in coded and generative art, reflecting on what made the decade unique as well as what we may have lost and are searching for today. Speakers include: ⁠Christiane Paul, Casey Reas, Christa Sommerer & Golan Levin

In our chat, "Pioneering Digital Expression in the '90s," from April 10, 2024, a panel of legends joins Le Random's ⁠Peter Bauman⁠, ⁠Conrad House and thefunnyguys⁠. They share their diverse perspectives on the 1990s as pioneers of an often overlooked decade. It's only overlooked because of its recency, as the impact the decade had can still be seen all around today, including AI and Internet-related art. The parallels between artists getting started on the Internet in the '90s and artists beginning with blockchain and AI today are stark. Enjoy one of Le Random's most enriching conversations yet. Speakers include: Auriea Harvey, Joshua Davis, LIA, Scott Draves, Vuk Ćosić Chapters

The Le Random team met up to celebrate a year since our public launch. thefunnyguys, Zack Taylor, Peter Bauman and Conrad House discuss: -One year of LR: Our favorite collected pieces 36 Points by Sage Jensen & seeds of seeds by Entangled Others Polygona Nervosa by Golan Levin RGB Elementary Cellular Automaton #1 by ciphrd Mondrian by Herbert W. Franke -One year of LR: Our favorite editorial pieces Demystifying Generative Aesthetics by Peter Demystifying Generative Art by Peter AGH on Glorifying the Computer by Peter Il(Lumina)ting Marfa by Nathaniel Stern Zach Lieberman on the Resonance of Generative Art by Peter -One year of LR: Our favorite moments -Our current thoughts on the market -Questions from the audience

In our chat, "Pioneers of '80s Art & Innovation," from February 7, 2024, a panel of icons joins Peter Bauman and Conrad House. They share their diverse perspectives on the 1980s in digital and generative art, reflecting the decade's richness and complexity. Speakers include: Mark Wilson, Copper Giloth, Dan Sandin, David Em, William Latham, Stephen Todd, Darcy Gerbarg + Geoff Davis Chapters

On February 1, 2024, Le Random collaborated with Joyn to host and present a community celebration of Genuary. Genuary is a generative art month, during which artists create daily pieces according to 31 carefully selected prompts. We invited some very special artists as guests, including the organizer of the event itself, Piter Pasma. We asked the artists about their experience participating in Genuary 2024 and more. The talk is in conjunction with an article Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) wrote on Joyn.xyz, where he curated and shared his thoughts on his 10 favorite Genuary prompts. Hosts: Aleksandra Art (Joyn), Peter Bauman⁠ (Content at Le Random), thefunnyguys (Co-Founder of Le Random), Conrad House (Nemo Cake, Collecting at Le Random) and Andrea (Crown & Palette at Joyn) Arists: Piter Pasma, Ella, Darien Brito, Ahmad Moussa

The Le Random team of ⁠⁠⁠thefunnyguys⁠⁠⁠, Peter Bauman (⁠⁠⁠Monk Antony⁠⁠⁠) and Conrad House (⁠⁠⁠Nemo Cake⁠⁠⁠) spoke to special guest and celebrated collector ⁠⁠⁠Michael Spalter about the dense history of the 1960s in generative art⁠, the Early Digital Era. This episode corresponds with: ⁠⁠⁠Generative Art Timeline: Chapter 4⁠⁠ 10 Significant Early Digital Era Moments (Covered in the talk)⁠ 1961: New Tendencies and Fluxus Begin 1963: Nake begins making computer art + 1965: Homage a Paul Klee 1965: First computer art exhibits (Computergrafik (Feb), Computer-Generated Pictures, and computer grafik (Nov)) 1966: CTG and generative systems 1966: 9 Evenings and E.A.T. Forms 1967: Sol LeWitt “Paragraphs on Conceptual Art” + 1969 Wall Drawings 1967: Charles Csuri's early work  1968: Cybernetic Serendipity  1968-9: Major international art and technology exhibitions:  1968: The machine as seen… (USA) 1969: Tendencies 4 (Europe) 10. 1968: Molnar's Interruptions: her first computer art

The Le Random team of ⁠⁠thefunnyguys⁠⁠, Peter Bauman (⁠⁠Monk Antony⁠⁠) and Conrad House (⁠⁠Nemo Cake⁠⁠) spoke to special guest and acclaimed expert Georg Bak ⁠about the foundational significance of the 1950s in generative art history: The Analog Era. This episode corresponds with: ⁠⁠Generative Art Timeline: Chapter 3⁠ 10 Significant Modern Era Moments (Covered in the talk)⁠ 1951: MIT and the US Navy First Demonstrate the Whirlwind Computer ( + 1954: Whirlwind and SAGE Initiatives by US Military Funding Spark Computing Innovations) 1952: Love-Letters by Christopher Strachey + 1959: Theo Lutz produces Stochastic Texts 1952: Abstronic by Mary Ellen Bute + Electronic Abstractions by Ben Laposky 1952: Birth of Neo-Dada + John Cage's Theater Piece No. 1 + 1957: Allan Kaprow Begins Making ‘Environments' + 1950: Happenings 1953: Grace Murray Hopper Invents Programming Languages 1954: Victor Vasarely's Yellow Manifesto Lays Generative Art's Conceptual Foundation 1956: CYSP by Nicolas Schöffer 1957: John Backus Releases FORTRAN 1957: Max Mathews Develops MUSIC I 1958: John Whitney Makes First Computer Animation for Film Vertigo

The Le Random team of ⁠thefunnyguys⁠, Peter Bauman (⁠Monk Antony⁠) and Conrad House (⁠Nemo Cake⁠) spoke to special guest and acclaimed gallerist Kate Vass about a whirlwind ⁠one hundred years of generative art history (1850-1949)⁠,the Modern Era. This episode corresponds with: ⁠Generative Art Timeline: Chapter 2 10 Significant Modern Era Moments (Covered in the talk)⁠ The Great Exhibition of London Lights Early Spark of the Arts & Crafts Movement (1851) Modern art Begins: Manet's Work Rejected by Paris Salon (1863) + Cézanne's Mont Sainte-Victoire Series (1870-1906) Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Picasso kicks off Cubism (1907) The Ten Biggest, No 7 by Hilma af Klint (1907) Tatlin and Rodchenko Found Constructivism and Malevich Stages the 0.10 Exhibition with Black Square. (1915) Walter Gropius Founds Bauhaus (1919) Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray Create Rotary Glass Plates (1920) Gunta Stölzl Named Director of Bauhaus Weaving Workshop (1927) Birth of digital computing: Konrad Zuse Completes the Z3 (1941) + ENIAC (1945) 10. Cybernetics Is Born: Norbert Wiener's Cybernetics + Claude Shannon's "A Mathematical Theory of Communication.” (1948)

Generative Art in the 1970s and Today Join hosts Peter Bauman (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Monk Antony⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Content at Le Random), Anika Meier (Expanded Art) and Conrad House (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nemo Cake⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Collecting at Le Random), as they welcome generative art legends Joan Truckenbrod and Hans Dehlinger to discuss the 1970s in generative art. The episode is released to celebrate Chapter 5 of our Generative Art Timeline, covering the decade of the '70s.

Originally Aired 28 June, 2023, this episode features Casey Reas, ciphrd, Anne Spalter, Anika Meier and Georg Bak. We celebrate the full-launch of Le Random's website.

The Le Random team of thefunnyguys, Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) and Conrad House (Nemo Cake) spoke to special guest Marius Watz about the ancient roots of generative art, the Pre-Modern Era. This episode corresponds with: Generative Art Timeline: Chapter 1 Article: Timeline Chapter 1's Ten Top Moments 10 Significant Pre-Modern Era Moments (Covered in the talk) Blombos Cave Drawing (70,000 BCE) I Ching Introduces Binary Concept (1,000 BCE) Euclid's Elements (300 BCE)  Al-Khwārizmī's Writes Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning (820 CE) Albrecht Dürer Creates Engraving Melencolia I (1515) Gottfried Leibniz Pioneers Computational Thinking (1666) Johann Philip Kirnberger's Musical Dice game (1757) Joseph-Marie Jacquard Invents the Jacquard Loom (1804) Nicéphore Niépce Produces First Permanent Photograph (1826) Ada Lovelace Becomes First Computer Programmer (1843)

Peter Bauman (Monk Antony) speaks to Dr A Michael Noll about his time at Bell Labs, creating arguably the first digital computer fine art, North America's first computer art exhibit and much more!