The team at Universal Everything (UE) lent their voices to the artwork Friends. Each beep, pew and bop was recorded before being transformed into a responsive soundscape. Friends features hundreds of unique, algorithmically generated characters made with software designed to create random combinations of shapes, colours and sizes – and they know if they bump into each other.
Friends continues UE’s exploration into anthropomorphic design, which attributes human characteristics to non-human beings. What gives these curious beings personality are their eyes and voices. Just adding these details brings a charming living presence to this lively group. See the way their eyes blink at different times? That’s decided by an algorithm, but this tiny difference sets them apart and turns shapes into individual characters
Curator notes
The video above is the backend of the generative system that UE used to create the characters in Friends. The control system on the left hand side of the screen shows a developer making slight changes that affect the character on screen.
The video below shows creative director Matt Pyke testing the collision detection functionality on a recreation of the space it appears in ACMI's gallery.
Creative Director: Matt Pyke
Technical Development and Animation: Chris Mullany
Sound Design: Simon Pyke
Executive Producer: Claire Spencer Cook
Additional Animation: Chris Perry
Studio Technician: Spike Thompson
Discover the story behind Universal Everything in this video featuring key members of the collective.
Related works
How to watch
Collection
Not in ACMI's collection
Previously on display
6 October 2024
ACMI: Gallery 4
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
LN196375
Object Types
Artwork
Digital
Materials
Real-time interactive installation, stereo sound