EMERGENCE

Every complex system begins with a simple rule.

CHAPTER II

Pattern — Emergent Structure

How does order emerge from simple interactions?

From interacting cells emerge patterns. What begins as local behaviour gradually forms structures that can be recognised, remembered and interpreted. Emergence is no longer only a property of computation, but also of perception.

The works gathered here examine the relationship between pattern and observation. They ask whether a pattern exists independently, or only once it is recognised by a viewer, a machine or another system. In doing so, they shift the exhibition from generation toward perception.

David Young

Conversation I

"Computation becomes interesting when behaviour cannot be predicted from individual parts."

EMERGENCE
From Conway to Collective Intelligence

Kate Vass Galerie, Zürich
8 September – 8 December 2026

Casey Reas • Jonathan McCabe • David Young • Jared S. Tarbell • Alex Mordvintsev • Memo Akten • Sasha Stiles • Zeroichi Arakawa • Alexander Reben

Curated by Kate Vass

The exhibition is intended to be experienced as a continuous sequence.