Description
Digital creature living in your browser
Crawlers is a kinetic, interactive work with feedback loops operating on multiple levels. Its motion system combines algorithmic and nature-inspired distributed models, inviting viewers to explore the underlying mechanisms. Its visual language reflects a similar balance: points, squares, and circles combine rigid technical expression with dynamic, lifelike movement.
Interaction with the page attempts to blur the boundaries between the artwork and the viewer, while also reflecting on contemporary questions surrounding web crawlers, bots, and data collection. Page generation introduces a simple generative system, a stripped-down LLM predictor, offering viewers an opportunity to experience machine learning at its core.
In the age of AI agents, we increasingly find ourselves personifying probabilistic algorithms. The work invites us to reflect on this tendency and consider deeper questions about what is alive, what is not, and what we are. How are we different from machines?
References
[1] Ijspeert, A. J., Crespi, A., Ryczko, D., and Cabelguen, J.-M. (2007). From swimming to walking with a salamander robot driven by a spinal cord model. Science, 315(5817), 1416–1420.
[2] Owaki, D., Goda, M., Miyazawa, S., and Ishiguro, A. (2017). A minimal model describing hexapedal interlimb coordination: The Tegotae-based approach. Frontiers in Neurorobotics, 11, 29.
How to Interact with Your Crawler
1.Wake up your crawler
When you open your NFT, you'll find your crawler sleeping on its own generated webpage. Interact with it to wake it up, then guide its movement around the page.
2.Take your crawler for a walk
You can bring your crawler to other websites by saving it as a bookmark in your browser.
Easy way (recommended):
·Drag the Bookmark button to your browser's bookmarks bar.
·That's it! Your crawler is ready to explore.
Alternative (if your bookmarks bar isn't available):
1.Bookmark the current page in your browser.
2.Click the Bookmark button on the crawler page to copy the special bookmarklet code.
3.Open your new bookmark's settings and select Edit.
4.Delete the existing URL and paste the copied code in its place.
5.Save your changes.
3.Explore the web together
Once you've saved your crawler as a bookmark, visit any website and click your crawler bookmark. Your crawler will appear from offscreen and begin exploring and interacting with the page.
A few things to keep in mind
This is still an experimental experience. Your crawler may take a few moments to appear, and some websites aren't fully compatible yet. Wikipedia works particularly well and is a great place to start!