{"id":2177,"date":"2011-01-10T18:09:22","date_gmt":"2011-01-10T23:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=2177"},"modified":"2011-01-10T18:09:22","modified_gmt":"2011-01-10T23:09:22","slug":"the-bmfac-2010-an-audience-of-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=2177","title":{"rendered":"The BMFAC 2010: An Audience of Winners!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A small revelation took place in the comments section of Terry’s recent posting, Diaries 2<\/a>.\u00a0 Terry had suggested, reasonably enough I think, that since there appeared to be no information or reaction anywhere on the internet about the recent Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest’s exhibition in Hyderabad, India held this past August, 2010, that perhaps the exhibition didn’t actually take place at all.\u00a0 Previous exhibitions had been reported and commented on extensively.\u00a0 What happened to this one?<\/p>\n

Two winners, whose artwork was in the BMFAC’s exhibition came forward and posted to the comment section that they<\/em> were well aware that the exhibition had taken place and wondered why we<\/em> didn’t contact the organizers if we wanted to find out for ourselves (i.e. if the rumors were true).\u00a0 The winners received a “catalog” of the exhibition and one even received some photos taken by an admiring conference attendee.<\/p>\n

I think their idea was to once and for all clear up the mystery surrounding the exhibition which grew from the absence of any mention of it anywhere on the internet.\u00a0 Not even the official website of the International Congress of Mathematicians 2010<\/a> (ICM) who were hosting the event (allegedly) had any mention of it.\u00a0 The two winners who rapidly left comments (one of whom commented before I’d<\/em> even read the blog posting) probably thought they were rescuing the BMFAC from Orbit Trap’s yellow journalistic clutches –once again<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for the BMFAC they merely showed how far this contest has fallen from being the biggest event in the fractal art world to becoming the biggest secret<\/em> in the fractal art world.<\/p>\n

A secret of course, but only on the internet<\/em>.\u00a0 But if you can’t find out about something on the internet, then what does that say about it’s success in trying to be promotional?<\/em> Ironically, the contest’s rules<\/a> declare: “We are choosing art that represents our art form to a world that largely does not know it…”<\/p>\n

That the world still<\/em> doesn’t know it!<\/p>\n

Except for the winners, of course.\u00a0 They know all about their own fractal art exhibition now.\u00a0 The BMFAC’s audience this time was it’s own winners.<\/p>\n

Perhaps that’s been a good thing since a former BMFAC judge commented that some of the winning entries this time weren’t actual “fractal” art at all.\u00a0 Perhaps some of the winners needed to be exposed to fractal art?\u00a0 (Some of the judges too?)<\/p>\n

But what about the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) that met in Hyderabad, India from August 19-27, 2010.\u00a0 Were they a winning audience too?\u00a0 Do you suppose any of them have no idea what fractals are? or have never seen fractal art?\u00a0 Do they form part of that “world that largely does not know it”?<\/p>\n

The previous BMFAC exhibits were publicly accessible and not restricted events like this last one which was limited to just the ICM attendees –serious math folks.\u00a0 This I think makes the entire exhibition something of a waste of time as far as promoting awareness of fractal art goes.\u00a0 But I guess from the perspective of the winners it wasn’t.\u00a0 They got a chance to put their work in front of the world’s most elite mathematicians (the proverbial “big break”).\u00a0 Is there any group in this world more capable of recognizing artistic merit and spreading the word better than mathematicians?\u00a0 For sure, they’re the ones you want on board to spearhead a fractal art publicity campaign.<\/p>\n

Not those ordinary members of the public (certainly not bloggers, either).\u00a0 They’re nowhere near as close to the center of the universe.\u00a0 Just to think that one of those great mathematicians has looked at your work and you have entered into the orbit of their life for just a little while is like having your whole being and very existence confirmed, exalted and glorified for ever and ever.<\/p>\n

Seriously.\u00a0 Just read this:<\/p>\n

The fact that my art was seen by some of the most prominent mathematicians in the world, seems to pale in comparison to a secondary link being posted on a web. You\u2019d be the first person I have come across to feel that wasn\u2019t enough for people.<\/p>\n

[…]<\/p>\n

I actually meant that given what I was, it would be rude to demand more. I am happy with what I have received. You wouldn\u2019t be, and that is sad.<\/p>\n

If you want to be privy to the events at the congress, earn it. Get a math degree and earn it. Don\u2019t sit her whining because you aren\u2019t privy to the information. Until then, you are, as you put it, one of the \u201ccommon people\u201d.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t expect to be invited to these without earning it. You shouldn\u2019t either. That\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

-from here<\/a> and here<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But that’s just Chris Oldfield, one of the winners speaking.\u00a0 Perhaps the rest weren’t so thrilled with being part of what might be seen as second-rate exposure for their work compared to the exhibitions of previous years.<\/p>\n

If the central point of the initial post was that David Makin was wrong and that organizers aren\u2019t doing a great job getting fractal art out to the public, I agree, he\u2019s wrong, the works did not reach too wide an audience to merit such phrase, even though it did reach a wider audience than it would if it stayed on the web.<\/p>\n

-from here<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“…on the web.”\u00a0 Yes, the web is no place to publicize anything these days.\u00a0 On the other hand, if any of those fractal art works in the exhibition should pique the curiosity of one of those math monarchs, where are they going to go to see more?\u00a0 Maybe the internet?\u00a0 For some people, that’s the first place they go; conferences come after.<\/p>\n

Esin Turkakin also includes the comment, “I\u2019m merely voicing my opinion just like you are, and am in no way affiliated with whatever high court you\u2019re imagining.”\u00a0 What I think she’s getting at is just because she was a winner in the contest that doesn’t mean she can’t comment objectively<\/em> on the BMFAC’s exhibition.\u00a0 That’s true of course and Chris Oldfield as well makes a number of comments about the BMFAC that probably reflect the thoughts of fractal artists who weren’t part the contest.<\/p>\n

It may not say much but I think it says something that the only comments made to the recent posting about the contest came from artists whose work was in the exhibit, i.e. “winners.”\u00a0 And why was that?\u00a0 Maybe it’s because the self-imposed radio silence by the contest organizers has reduced the audience of the Hyderabad exhibition to just the winners?<\/p>\n

Is that the only “world” anyone would have thought the ICM exhibition was going to be presenting fractal art to?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A small revelation took place in the comments section of Terry’s recent posting, Diaries 2.\u00a0 Terry had suggested, reasonably enough I think, that since there appeared to be no information or reaction anywhere on the internet about the recent Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest’s exhibition in Hyderabad, India held this past August, 2010, that perhaps … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/image1.jpg?fit=420%2C585","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2553,"url":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=2553","url_meta":{"origin":2177,"position":0},"title":"The Roots of BMFAC","author":"cruelanimal","date":"16 February, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"It wasn't the sleep of reason that gave birth to a monster. Some of Orbit Trap's critics have taken issue with our claim that the Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest (BMFAC) is nothing more than a publicity stunt to feather the nests of its organizers and judges.\u00a0 These critics argue\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 11 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 11 comments","link":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=2553#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"Roots of BMFAC","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/FrontierbetweenArtandScience.jpg?fit=450%2C436&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2566,"url":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=2566","url_meta":{"origin":2177,"position":1},"title":"BMFAC: “We Are All Winners Now”","author":"cruelanimal","date":"20 February, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"This does not look like an art exhibition. Two photographs of the exhibition of the Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest in Hyderabad, India, 2010. Photographs released by Esin Turkakin. Photographs of the showcase exhibition of the 2009 Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest (BMFAC) have been released by one of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"BMFAC in India","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/BMFAC_India2_sm.jpg?fit=450%2C300&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1556,"url":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=1556","url_meta":{"origin":2177,"position":2},"title":"BMFAC: Out of Sight, Out of Mind?","author":"cruelanimal","date":"11 September, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"I find this work menacing\/playful because of the way the optical suggestions of the purity of line makes resonant the larger carcass. Review courtesy of the The Instant Art Critique Generator. The 2009 Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Competition's crowning exhibition at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Hyderabad, India, ended\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"Reverse BMFAC","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/ReverseBMFAC.jpg?fit=450%2C450&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1260,"url":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=1260","url_meta":{"origin":2177,"position":3},"title":"The BMFAC Exhibition Begins? Who Knew?","author":"cruelanimal","date":"3 June, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm just like the Olympic torch.\u00a0 I travel the world, and no one knows my route in advance. [Promotional poster for the 2009 Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest Exhibition.\u00a0 Image seen on Sandra Reid's blog.] Apparently, the 2009 Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest Exhibition has begun. Of course, you'd never\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 3 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 3 comments","link":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=1260#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"BMFAC in San Sabastian","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/BMFAC_SanSebastian.jpg?fit=450%2C300&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2189,"url":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=2189","url_meta":{"origin":2177,"position":4},"title":"BMFAC: Sorry, you’re looking for something that isn’t here","author":"Tim","date":"11 January, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's a riddle:\u00a0 when is the host of an art exhibition not the host of an art exhibition? Interesting search results for \"fractal art\".\u00a0 Maybe they don't call it \"art?\"\u00a0 Well, alright.\u00a0 Some people might not see fractals as real art but how about just \"fractals\"?\u00a0 That's got to come\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=2189#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Screenshot-3.png?fit=728%2C319&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Screenshot-3.png?fit=728%2C319&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Screenshot-3.png?fit=728%2C319&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/Screenshot-3.png?fit=728%2C319&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":225,"url":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=225","url_meta":{"origin":2177,"position":5},"title":"Questions about the Benoit Mandelbrot Fractal Art Contest…","author":"cruelanimal","date":"8 September, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"A New Way of Seeing (2007) \u2026you should be asking -- asking now that Version.2006 has a year of dry paint and Version.2007 has just rolled its wet pixels off the assembly line-- asking before you start your generators and begin revving your fractals for next year\u2019s Version.2008: ~Why is\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/?p=225#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"A New Way of Seeing","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orbittrap.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/newwayofseeing.jpg?fit=450%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2177"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2188,"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2177\/revisions\/2188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/orbittrap.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}