Cutout Compositions

Cutout Compositions is a generative series consisting of 64 artist-curated works of geometric abstraction. It began as a study of generative composition—an exploration of how a canvas can be programmatically divided into larger and smaller parts that, together, form aesthetically balanced and engaging structures. The initial approach was simple: iteratively split the canvas into smaller rectangles, assign each a random color from a five-color palette, and then merge touching areas that shared...

Cutout Compositions is a generative series consisting of 64 artist-curated works of geometric abstraction. It began as a study of generative composition—an exploration of how a canvas can be programmatically divided into larger and smaller parts that, together, form aesthetically balanced and engaging structures. The initial approach was simple: iteratively split the canvas into smaller rectangles, assign each a random color from a five-color palette, and then merge touching areas that shared the same color. This process yielded stable and satisfying right-angled interlocking forms, which naturally evolved into a geometric language of their own. Encouraged by these results, the exploration turned toward imperfection—with a question guiding the next stage: can the beauty of the process itself emerge if the divisions are made less perfectly? This led to a new system that cuts the canvas using rays slightly deviating from right angles, producing compositions of varied shapes and proportions. A refined joining procedure followed, allowing these irregular quads to merge into larger angular forms. The resulting structures—off-balance yet harmonious—began to resonate on a more personal, artistic level. The system behind Cutout Compositions does not contain hardcoded compositional rules; it is, in essence, blind. This blindness demanded a curatorial process: thousands of outputs were generated, reviewed repeatedly, and intuitively selected for their visual rhythm and spatial intrigue. The final series reflects both the algorithm’s autonomy and the artist’s sensibility in guiding it. To enhance the sense of materiality, a custom texturing procedure was implemented, giving the works a tactile, painterly quality reminiscent of geometric abstraction on canvas. This fusion of digital precision and handcrafted presence turns the generative process itself into a meditation on balance—between order and deviation, automation and authorship, control and intuition. Artwork key options: 1..9 - download scaled output (1-9x) s - download current view URL parameters: &pd=<1..4> - render with specified pixel density &wf=<0..5> - draw wireframe (0 for all shapes, 1-5 for separate colors) &st=<0..100> - wireframe stroke brightness (0 is default) Created using p5js. @VolatileMoods, October, 2025.