Channing Hansen: Morphogenesis

“I am interested in the idea that humans themselves embody an infinite number of potential algorithms.” – Channing Hansen

A solo exhibition of new, large-scale works by American artist Channing Hansen. Hansen’s vibrant paintings comprise abstract, hand-knitted constructions stretched over wooden frames. Developing his longstanding interest in the crossover between craft, art, science and technology, this new body of textiles is the most technically complex the artist has made to date.

Dominique Heyse-Moore, Senior Curator at Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester will conduct a walkthrough of the exhibition with the artist between 6-6.30pm at the beginning of the Private View on Friday 16 November 2018.

The exhibition takes the late work of Alan Turing, WWII code breaker and father of computer science, as its inspiration. Turing’s theory of ‘morphogenesis’ hypothesised how patterns and structures such as stripes, spots and spirals can form spontaneously in nature through genetic abnormalities. Inspired by Turing’s biological principle, the design of Hansen’s paintings in the exhibition are produced by a unique computer algorithm that can generate potentially infinite combinations of colour, fibre and knit. The artist is unaware of how the finished work will look until it is complete as he relies purely on the algorithm to prompt changes in form.