Every icon is a computer program developed by John Sim that runs every possible combination of black and white squares on a 32x32 grid (1024 squares). The program counts through every set from completely white to completely black. This program tests the limits of digitalisation, a process that revolves around binary principle, i.e. something is either on or off. In this case this is used to create an image or an icon. Simon poses the question “Is it possible to practice image making by exploring all of image-space using a computer rather than by recording from the world around us?”. Of course this can only be realised through conceptualisation. Time is a major factor in the work. ‘At a rate of 100 icons per second (on a typical desktop computer), it will take only 1.36 years to display all variations of the first line of the grid, the second line takes an exponentially longer 5.85 billion years to complete’. This staggering figure almost makes the work frustratingly redundant in practical terms. I have research similar projects to this before but this is the first that I've actually been able to see the program in process. Simon created the program in 1997 where image digital image data was a lot more compromised but it still exists as a web application and it is possible to run it on any device.
I feel that we are almost expected to test the limits to the digital medium and interfaces that we come into contact with. Therefore I am not surprised that multiple projects like this one exist. The digital world is rigidly structured and being able to move fluidly almost becomes impossible. There is a certain argument that we can become trapped with in this digital sphere, a place where images begin to look the same and ideas begin to sound the same. Therefore as artists or creatives we are attempting to break free from any sorts of constrains. In this case that is done by looking intrinsically at computing and comprehensively at digitalisation, to form a piece of computer based conceptual.