A new program that generates random collages by selecting random parts of images and drawing them on top of each other. The program runs continuously, blending new image parts over the existing composition. All images were sourced from the web from open, public websites. The images were obtained “randomly” by doing image searches using words randomly selected from a dictionary. Images were chosen that were the right size and orientation and which fitted certain criteria. They all had to be unaltered photos and not hand-drawn, computer-generated or manipulated images. They were also selected for interesting composition and subject matter – so it is a sort of semi-random process. Image contents and subjects that I would not have thought of without the random process have been obtained – but I have exercised some choice about what sorts of images, compositions, and image fragments will work well in the program.
At the moment the program uses this library of images on the hard drive. I would like to find some way to allow the program to search for and find its own images on the web. I have a prototype for this, and it works, but not very well. If anyone has any ideas about how to do this well, let me know. It’s possible that the library of pre-downloaded images is actually a better choice – as it can make more interesting comments on the relationships between ourselves, our shared images, and the world due to the more careful selection. I’ll need a lot more of these images, though, as at the moment you see image fragments repeat a bit too often.
