Less a drawing machine and more of a pathfinder, Tentacle’s smart algorithm has the ability to continually study the image under construction and guide a conditionally constrained contour to attempt abstracted gestural drawings. The adjustable controls driving this process are based on observations made by Tentacle’s creators and those made by renowned artists and art historians when creating and studying abstract compositions.


Tentacle expands upon conceptual ideas first introduced by Sol LeWitt in his scribble drawings by using a system that allows for varying combinations based on choices made for each iteration (within specified ranges). It is, therefore, that Tentacle is not limited to producing mathematically derived or mimetic images but also has the ability to truly approximate the aesthetic schema of automatic gestural abstractions.


Artists collaborating with Tentacle are able to make relatively simple adjustments to these controls, which provide a set of broad-based instructions, to generate an intricate spectrum of unique outcomes. Each set of instructions can, therefore, create a cohesive edition with varying images.

0 Plural

Amir Hariri
September 22nd, 2022

0 Plural is the latest album release by Damon and has cover art created using Tentacle. This was the first time Amir incorporated the algorithm’s controls to directly respond to music. The constraints of Tentacle corresponded well with the layered structure of Damon’s music, especially since it enabled an artist-algorithm collaboration generating automatic abstractions that conceptually corresponded to the music.

Damon and Amir have created a limited edition set of archival prints from the art for the cover and for each track. This collection consists of a 12”x12” (image dimensions) album cover on Epson Hot Press Bright paper with an edition of 7 prints. In addition, the collection also includes two 7”x7” (image dimensions) prints with an edition of 12, also on Epson Hot Press Bright paper, for each of the two songs, Sheep and Deer. Editions are printed by Brooklyn Archival in Brooklyn, New York and editioned, titled and signed on the verso by both Damon and Amir. Prints are available on Damon’s Bandcamp page.

0 Plural is an exploration of a tightly constrained modular synthesizer patch centered around the Make Noise Strega. It is a return to longer form works after a decade of nearly obsessive focus on the short character pieces that comprise the Character Weekend and 1 Vox series as well as most of the Exquisite series (a collaboration with John O’Brien). Longer forms seem natural with the Strega; it encourages a slow luxuriation in its organic sound.

Morning

Damon Holzborn
June 24th, 2022

Playing around with something somewhat less abstract than usual.

Prints available exclusively on The Artling.

Excavation

Amir Hariri
May 13th, 2022

Exploring varied positive and negative strokes/space.

Prints available exclusively on The Artling.

Strokes

Amir Hariri
April 6th, 2022

Different Strokes – Activating the verticals and horizontals using varied strokes.

Graffiti Doodles

Amir Hariri
February 22nd, 2022

Using structured line and automatic contours, with varying tone and thickness, to make abstract graffiti-like doodles.

Delicate

Damon Holzborn
February 22nd, 2022

Toning down the extreme setting of the Textures edition, to get something quite the opposite.

Profiles

Amir Hariri
February 22nd, 2022

Experimenting with anatomical facial structure and features in profile.

Textures

Damon Holzborn
February 22nd, 2022

Abusing the settings with extreme values to generate textures and patterns.

Early Experiments

Damon Holzborn
February 2nd, 2022

These images were created during the development of Tentacle and represent earlier stages of the algorithm.