The Art of M. Linden -- Abstract Peek Into Mind of Linden Lab CEO Mark Kingdon

In a very interesting interview with Mark Kingdon on Massively, the Linden Lab CEO casually told Tateru Nino about his art student background, and pointed to his Flickr stream of drawings, a striking series of abstract and intricate meshes. I was curious to know more, and how they might relate to his current work in Second Life.

"I've been doing these drawings for 15 years," M. told me, "although the ones you see on Flickr are from a very condensed period of time... Drawing helps focus my mind, like meditation.

"The less colorful/intricate drawings on Flickr were done at the office while on long conference calls -- black ink pen, basic printer paper. (Yes, I can concentrate on the conversation while drawing.) I remember exactly where I was when I did the last one in the set (it's shaped like a lopsided Africa). I had to crop it because it had telephone numbers on it. A true doodle. The more colorful/intricate drawings -- the ones where I used colored pencils -- were done at home. They take a long time (and they're messy) because I am forever sharpening the pencils. I haven't doodled much at all since joining the Lab. When I am in in-world meetings I am always camming around."

So how does his artwork relate to Second Life and his management of Linden Lab?

"[N]one were inspired by SL because they were done 'B.SL.' -- so to speak," he tells me. "But they might explain why I am so fascinated and inspired by Second Life. It's a complex, interconnected system -- whether you are talking about the in-world community, the economy, the software or the Lab itself. I am a systems-thinker. I like to understand the components individually, on their own, how they inter-relate and influence each other, how they fit together holistically. I guess my drawings do the same thing. Many components are fit together into an overall system. In most if not all the drawings you'll see that there are no isoloated lines or shapes. They are all interconnected." He points to this one in particular:

"[Y]ou'll notice that the swirls are all connected. I have a whole series of drawings that are comprised of one unending line like this one, but with perpendicular, not curly, lines."

All images courtesy M. Linden. Hat tip: DoubleDown Tandino and Wizard Gynoid.

Comments

[Mysteryn11 Vollmar]

Interesting article. In fact I'm more surprised about those in SL who don't have a creative bent - it seems to come with the territory. :)

[Wizard Gynoid]

Hat tip: Wizard Gynoid

I spilled the beans about M Linden's artwork postings to Flickr in a comment I left on Dusan Writer's blog here --> http://dusanwriter.com/index.php/2009/11/07/linden-lab-humane-technology/#more-1532

DoubleDown Tandino gave me a Hat Tip here ->
http://djdoubledown.blogspot.com/2009/11/m-linden-is-artist.html

The point I was trying to make was that I like M more now. He seems more virtual.

[Hamlet Au]

Hat tips duly amended, Wizzy!

[Tristin M]

Slow news day huh?

[AnnOtooleInSL]

Have a psychologist analyze those doodlings lol.

Will probably find out he likes to "be connected".

[Doreen Garrigus]

Nice stuff, Mark. I'm not sure which one is my favorite, but the networked vs. un-networked yellow dots picture is right up there.

I do hope you have an alt somewhere building cool stuff. It would be a shame for us to lose out on your artistic abilities because you are spending so much time in meetings.

[Dale Innis]

I am normally a calm and rational person, and try to have a smile for everyone.

But.

"a striking series of abstract and intricate meshes"

"artistic abilities"

O.o

They're DOODLES!

PERFECTLY ORDINARY ENTIRELY PEDESTRIAN DOODLES!

FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!

WTF!?!?!?!?!?

flippin' fanbois...