Blossom
WebGL on Canvas 11.2021
WebGL on Canvas 11.2021
Turning branches into branches.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2a348b0313979103c8344b6356c3034e1604d29b6c2e95861c5068c1af998fc1/workartwork-0-HD.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9ce77a1461c1b1ba3aa9e1c32fd2abe65b4fa064493862b62efe1de19ddb50aa/workartwork-1-HD.jpg)
In 2020 I was commissioned by Arpad Ray to create a piece of generative art for his upcoming platform Work/Artwork. The premise of the platform is to turn people’s Github repositories into unique artworks to print and sell.
A few months before Arpad reached out I was looking at Cherry Blossom paintings from Asian history. Being the creative coder that I am, I’m naturally drawn to generative algorithms like the formations of trees.
My concept was to use repo as a seed to grow a unique Cherry Blossom (sakura サクラ) tree. Metaphorically trees show growth over time, much like a developer’s lifecycle on a Github project.
I used threejs to design the generative system using the repository data provided by the system’s backend of Work/Artwork.
Taking inspiration from a trees growth through concentric circles, I mapped date values to variables that would determine how the tree would grow. This example showcased is based on Tensorflow’s Github repository.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bb308dac7274ea1041445419f3c13b745fa2de51be1ef85b43bbe5dfa4c61aa9/tensorflow-file-changes.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c664959a01ec1348accc22ca8d284c23b2ae48ecf14fafd4d47d65ee7ea1d26f/tensorflow-author-activity.jpg)
The user has the option to choose several growth styles and color themes during the creation stage to suit their preference.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b9000e4e968d35c2787026e6d79332c3c7b5f3ed571c1bf5b9edb5a57d658606/blossom-3-HD.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4d78c986b397b76d439648f200c9ebd855357efb009fb2c9bb2edd1a2f496b1f/blossom-2-HD.jpg)
Blossom was featured THE AGE OF DATA - Embracing Algorithms in Art & Design, a book by Christoph Grünberger who also contributed a generative design for the Work/Artwork project.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e926953053857994472f06145b6170aec1f469c904fb8f409bc88f77a431cdd4/blossom-taod-1.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/80621938dde1dd6fa46868d8bf122e7df783af170a02f04ad66eb69821856e57/blossom-taod-0.jpg)
Platform
Work / Artwork
Work / Artwork