07 Jun Recursion

In computing science recursion is where a function calls upon itself. In biology recursion refers to a cell dividing, then recurrent cells performing the same division. This process is similar to a repeat, an iteration, with the important difference of allowing for the possibility of unconstrained depth, for not knowing the parameters of the result. A computer program with a recursive loop allows for a hierarchical database of infinite depth, cells in an unbounded loop form a cancer (Daum, 2003). Merleau-Ponty’s writings on consciousness have the imagery of recursion: “When it comes to consciousness, I can only form a notion of it by first referring myself back to this consciousness that I am” (2012, p.265).

My processes of researching, reflecting and making are recursive. Each reading ends with a list of more readings. I write a page, print it out, write on it again, type it in, print it out. The project applies the same process to the production of artefacts as art. Traces (taken from the tree), rubbings (from the bark), ink (from the tree needles) are scanned, manipulated, repeated and reflected then printed out and repainted, scanned again. The processes are computed without a bounded conclusion, and with each iteration comes the possibility of a glitch, that itself is then repeated into the process.  

The drawbacks of computational recursion can also be seen in these processes (Tang, 2016):

1. Recursion consumes stack space[1].

The process of returning to and repeating creates an abundance of material, it consumes the stack space of memory on my computer and wall space in a studio, the reading consumes the stack space of my thoughts.

• Recursion may perform redundant computations

In the repetition of imagery, iterations may become redundant as they are discarded or fade, but as Calvino’s Venice[2] repeats itself “so that something will stick in the mind” perhaps in these repetitions my experience of the tree emerges. Within this project, the action of returning to the tree, and the processes of research, reflection and making are recursive and reiterative, the research imprinting itself into each successive process, that in turn inform the research trajectory. The artmaking processes, both digital and haptic, follow this process too, layering images over iterations of themselves, glitches arising, details fading and sharpening.

[1] Stack space refers to a type of temporary working memory used by a program as it runs. (Microsoft, 2013)

[2] “The city is redundant: it repeats itself so that something will stick in the mind. Memory is redundant: it repeats signs so that the city can begin to exist.” (Calvino, I. 1997)

References

Calvino, I. (1997) Invisible Cities. Vintage

Daum, B., (2003) Modeling Business Objects with XML Schema, Morgan Kaufmann. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-55860-816-0.X5000-9

Merleau-Ponty, M. (2012) Trans Landes, D.A., Phenomenology of Perception. Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from: http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csuau/detail.action?docID=1433878.

Microsoft (2017) Out of stack space (Error 28). Microsoft, Office Devs Center. Retrieved from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/language/reference/user-interface-help/out-of-stack-space-error-28