Mayne, known for his groundbreaking architectural designs, explains how cutting-edge computer technologies can answer enduring artistic questions
LA Louver hosts the first U.S. exhibition of Thom Mayne, the renowned Los Angeles-based architect and artist, with a new collection of works exploring the interplay of impermanence, materiality, and advanced technology.
Title Shaping accidentthe exhibition runs until January 4, 2025.
Mayne, known for his groundbreaking architectural designs, explores how cutting-edge computing technologies can answer enduring artistic questions. His approach fuses traditional artistic concepts with innovative digital methods, creating a dynamic fusion of drawing, sculpture and printmaking.
Each piece begins with a computer algorithm that translates conceptual ideas into physical forms. Employing principles such as selection, iteration and evolution, borrowed from natural processes, Mayne uses “primitives” as fundamental forms to generate complex designs. These shapes undergo digital manipulation through processes such as rotation, stacking and transparency adjustments, guided by scripts developed by Mayne.
Despite highly controlled parameters, the resulting works reflect a tension between chance and choice, raising questions about the balance between automation and artistic intention.
The final compositions are produced using advanced 3D printing techniques, layering UV ink onto aluminum, wood or paper panels to create richly textured surfaces. These precise yet tactile works nod to Mayne’s earlier experiments from the 1980s, which incorporated ephemeral materials like rust, pigments, and gold leaf, elements that evolved over time.