Alice Lab for computational worldmaking

Alice Lab

The Alice Lab

Dr. Graham Wakefield leads the Alice research lab at York University, applying a deep commitment to the open-endedness of computation as an art material toward technologies of biomorphic intelligence within immersive mixed realities. He has a background in philosophy, music, virtual reality, and creative software development, and has co-produced a series of international “Artificial Nature” art exhibits with Dr. Haru Ji (OCAD University) since 2007.

Graham Wakefield's research has evolved from computer music composition to the generation of open-ended environments for exploratory experience, emphasizing continuation over closure. This work is expressed through software design for creative coding, and immersive artworks of artificial ecosystems (both leveraging live system evolution through dynamic compilation). He is Associate Professor in the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design and Canada Research Chair of Computational Worldmaking at York University, Toronto, where he runs the Alice Lab. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of Warwick UK, a Master in Composition from Goldsmiths College University of London, UK and a Ph.D in Media Arts and Technology from the University of California Santa Barbara, USA. Graham played a central role in the development of software systems and authoring content for the AlloSphere: a three storey spherical multi-user immersive instrument in the California Nano-Systems Institute. Graham is also a software developer for Cycling '74, co-authoring the Gen extension for the widely-used media arts environment Max/MSP/Jitter, and publishing the highly-rated textbook Generating Sound & Organizing Time. Since 2007 he has collaborated with Dr. Haru Ji (OCAD University) to produce an award-winning international series of biologically-inspired immersive interactive artworks under the title "Artificial Nature". His works and publications have been performed, exhibited and presented at international events including SIGGRAPH, ICMC, NIME, EvoWorkshops and ISEA.

The Alice Lab is directed by Graham Wakefield, Canada Research Chair & Associate Professor in Computational Arts, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, York University
Academic profile at York University
Canada Research Chair profile
Artist profile in Artificial Nature

Alice Lab panoramic photo

Research Program

The Alice Lab's program of interdisciplinary research-creation applies a deep commitment to the open- endedness of computation—as an art material—toward technologies of artificial intelligence within immersive mixed reality. The research and training program generates new software for artists to co-create immersive worlds—as artworks-from within the worlds themselves. As collaborative improvisations enacted with the whole body, they are intended to radically change how we sculpt complex forms and behaviours. Moreover, these worlds are more responsive, playful, and curious. Disseminated in public venues, they share a different conception of the cohabitation of human and artificial beings.

Computationally-infused technology now saturates our living environment and increasingly shapes our decisions and lives, and this technology is becoming more visually, sonically, and spatially aware. It is common to think of computation as a tool for solving a problem, or a machine for achieving a given task, or a platform to share content. But these utilitarian perspectives miss a fascinating and fundamental capacity of computation–that it can continually and interactively rewrite itself into being something else–which is a characteristically creative capacity it shares with nature. (Moreover, adhering to pre-given goals and design for exploitation risks infusing unwelcome biases of hidden stakeholders–as evident in current debates around Artificial Intelligence.)

In contrast, the lab's research program asks: Can we use this mutability of computation to create environments that are more abundantly open, explorable, playful, and collaborative in meaningfully rewarding ways? Can we use immersive "XR" technologies, including Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality, to build toward such futures and to place artists and the wider public at the heart of how they are shaped? The Alice Lab tackles these questions from each end of the human-machine spectrum via concurrent research streams of Improvising Worlds and Curious Worlds. The former places artists in the full context of immersive works as they rewrite them in-place; the latter develops artificial beings that can rewrite themselves to be more curious, playful, and creative with us.

Alice Lab panoramic photo

Publications

ResearchGate

Graham Wakefield, Gregory Taylor. Generating Sound & Organizing Time: Thinking with gen~ Book 1” Cycling ‘74, November 2022.. 5/5 stars on GoodReads, 4.8/5.0 on Amazon, Interview on PerfectCircuit

Exhibitions

Talks, panels, guest lectures, and workshops

Students

Graduate students conducting research/art with the lab

Undergraduate students conducting research/art in the lab

Student publications

Location

Room 309, Goldfarb Center for Fine Arts,
School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design, York University,
86 Fine Arts Rd, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada

Getting there from the York University TTC Subway station:

Courses taught by the director

Current

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