Ryota Matsumoto (nonfiction)

Ryota Matsumoto is an artist, designer and urban planner.

Born in Tokyo, he was raised in Hong Kong and Japan. He received a Master of Architecture degree from University of Pennsylvania in 2007 after his studies at Architectural Association in London and Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art in early 90’s. Matsumoto has previously collaborated with a cofounder of the Metabolist Movement, Kisho Kurokawa, and with Arata Isozaki, Cesar Pelli, MIT Media Lab and Nihon Sekkei Inc. before establishing his award-winning interdisciplinary design office, Ryota Matsumoto Studio.

He presented his work for the 5th symposium of the Imaginaries of the Future at Cornell University in 2017 and currently serves as an adjunct lecturer of Transart institute, University of Plymouth.

In my drawing process, I use base images, composed by 3D modeling software, and incorporate generative and recursive algorithms.

In some of my work, I employ multi-agent morphological computation systems, including swarm intelligence, evolutionary optimization, and data transcoding algorithms. I use these algorithms widely for optimization problems and machine learning, combining and expanding the range of possibilities in fusing design and biology.

These computational processes generate, evaluate, and multiply design permutations based on intrinsic environmental behaviors and evolutionary processes that are immanent in nature.

After the initial phase described above, I merge these draft drawings with traditional media, such as acrylic, ink, graphite, and photo collages.

To process these further, I loop them through a series of arithmetic and stochastic operations or agent-based algorithms by applying custom image editing programs to generate further possible combinations and permutations.

Alternatively, I transform my paintings into variable data sets that are reassembled or merged into different visual configurations based on the recursive and iterative processes with multivalent results.

-- Ryota Matsumoto

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Art (nonfiction)

External links:

• Ryota Matsumoto Studio
• Artist and Designer Ryota Matsumoto Talks To Durtti About Combining AI And Acrylics