Evolving Mondrian-Style Artworks

This paper describes a Genetic Algorithm (GA) software system for automatically generating Mondrian-style symmetries and abstract artwork. The research examines Mondrian’s paintings from 1922 through 1932 and analyses the balances, color symmetries and composition in these paintings. We used a set of eleven criteria to define the automated system. We then translated and formulized these criteria into heuristics and criteria that can be measured and used in the GA algorithm. The software includes a module that provides a range of GA parameter values for interactive selection. Despite a number of limitations, the method yielded high quality results with colors close to those of Mondrian and rectangles that did not overlap and fit the canvas.