John F. Simon Jr.
ComplexCity2000

Not on view

Artist or Maker: John F. Simon Jr.
Title: ComplexCity
Place Made: United States
Date Made: 2000
Medium: Software, Macintosh Powerbook G3, acrylic plastic
Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 3 1/2 in. (48.26 x 40.64 x 8.89 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Max Palevsky
Accession Number: M.2000.154
Classification: Time Based Media
Collecting Area: Contemporary Art
Curatorial Notes: John F. Simon’s practice centers on using custom software to create abstract imagery, a process he considers a form of “creative writing.” ComplexCity, a collection of urban abstractions, visually represents the artist’s experience living in New York City. Skyscrapers, traffic patterns, and mazes are rendered through code, transforming personal experiences into dynamic visual abstractions. Written in C and powered by a Macintosh PowerBook G3, the work predates the current widespread acceptance of code-based artistic practices.

An updated 2023 iteration of ComplexCity transitioned the work from a physical installation to a generative art collection on the blockchain. This shift reflects the evolution of digital art, mirroring the broader decentralization of artistic creation and distribution. Simon acknowledges the impact of AI on his coding process, using tools like ChatGPT to convert and adapt his original C code for the updated version.

Joel Ferree

2024
Copyright: © John F. Simon, Jr. 2000

Not on view

Artist or Maker: John F. Simon Jr.
Title: ComplexCity
Place Made: United States
Date Made: 2000
Medium: Software, Macintosh Powerbook G3, acrylic plastic
Dimensions: 19 x 16 x 3 1/2 in. (48.26 x 40.64 x 8.89 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Max Palevsky
Accession Number: M.2000.154
Classification: Time Based Media
Collecting Area: Contemporary Art
Curatorial Notes: John F. Simon’s practice centers on using custom software to create abstract imagery, a process he considers a form of “creative writing.” ComplexCity, a collection of urban abstractions, visually represents the artist’s experience living in New York City. Skyscrapers, traffic patterns, and mazes are rendered through code, transforming personal experiences into dynamic visual abstractions. Written in C and powered by a Macintosh PowerBook G3, the work predates the current widespread acceptance of code-based artistic practices.

An updated 2023 iteration of ComplexCity transitioned the work from a physical installation to a generative art collection on the blockchain. This shift reflects the evolution of digital art, mirroring the broader decentralization of artistic creation and distribution. Simon acknowledges the impact of AI on his coding process, using tools like ChatGPT to convert and adapt his original C code for the updated version.

Joel Ferree

2024