The Great Computational Herbarium
Year 2023-present
Format Custom software (colored, silent)
File Format JavaScript(p5.js), HTML, CSS
Dimension Dimensions variable
Assistant software developer Rodjun
The Great Computational Herbarium was born from a dialogue between past and future. Developed as part of the Remembrance of Things Future project at LACMA, it was inspired by historical botanical manuscripts and the ways humans have documented flora over centuries.
Using mathematical formulas, including the Superformula, Rizzolli programs organic forms that simulate the structure and diversity of real-world vegetation. Each species is uniquely shaped by coded parameters, resulting in intricate, lifelike botanical compositions. The project reflects on the ways humans document, interpret, and reimagine nature through technology.
The Great Computational Herbarium is an artistic exploration of generative biodiversity, blending historical references with contemporary digital aesthetics. The project is continuously expanding, with new plant species being developed and compiled into a future contemporary Flora—a digital reinterpretation of traditional herbal books.