One thing that stood out to me from the video was how randomness can be used to generate complexity. Casey talked about how simple rules together with random elements, can give results that feel natural and unexpected. I personally like using randomness in my work because it makes things feel more natural, rather than too structured or predictable. I also found it interesting how randomness isn’t just about making things look chaotic—it actually reflects real-life patterns from the biological to the mathematical world. Just like in nature, nothing is perfectly placed, and randomness can help simulate that. However, I believe it is best to allow randomness to do its thing in artwork but while still maintaining some control over the whole structure to some extent. Having control or knowledge over art makes me feel more connected to the final structure. If everything is completely random, it can feel messy, but if there’s no randomness at all, it feels artificial. I choose to settle for balance between the two . A great example Casey mentioned was a piece that incorporated randomness but became more structured when symmetry was introduced. This showed how even a small amount of control can bring order to something that initially seems chaotic.
Another point that resonated with me was on the use of random numbers in art. He mentioned how random numbers can serve as a tool to introduce variation, but they also rely on a system of rules to guide the outcome. Without some guiding principles, the randomness would lose its purpose. I think this aligns with my approach to using randomness in my work—it’s not just about throwing chaos into the mix, but about using it in a controlled way to show creativity while still achieving a somewhat desired result. In my week two project, I was able to maintain order for the most part of the artwork, while also adding randomness in aspects like the color choices.