Alexis André

Alexis André is a French artist and researcher who has been based in Tokyo for nearly two decades. Since 2009, he has conducted research at Sony Computer Science Laboratories, where his work focuses on creative interaction and includes the development of the toio robot platform. His professional training in computer graphics, machine learning and engineering provided a direct path to the field of generative art. André’s artistic practice is one facet of a broader inquiry into using generative methods to shape future forms of entertainment and human computer interaction.

André’s practice is founded on code and rooted in the Processing environment for visual art. He is known for long form generative projects, in which a single algorithm is designed to produce a wide array of distinct works. For the series *Friendship Bracelets*, held in this collection, he worked in collaboration with Erick Calderon. André was responsible for the aesthetic and programmatic design, creating a system that generates a vast spectrum of unique digital bracelet patterns. The final appearance of each work, including its specific colours and thread sequence, is determined by the output of the algorithm at its moment of execution.

A primary concern in André's work is the relationship between digital instructions and physical experience. The *Friendship Bracelets* project explicitly addresses this by pairing each generative artwork with a guide for its real world fabrication. The project notes cite the artist Donald Judd as an influence, particularly Judd's elegant use of simple, readily available materials. By providing instructions to create a physical bracelet from embroidery floss, the work elevates the act of making and sharing. It proposes that the artwork functions not just as a collectible object, but also as a prompt for creative participation and a signal of community.