Evolutionary Exploration of the Mandelbrot Set

The Mandelbrot set is an infinitely complex fractal defined by a simple iterative algorithm operating on the complex numbers. Views of the Mandelbrot set are a common form of fractal art. Presented here is a collection of fitness functions that permit three-parameter evolutionary search of the Mandelbrot set to locate interesting views. While the system presented is automatic, the hand of the artist can direct the type of views found by modifying the fitness function. Based on an envelope that specifies the character of the fractal landscape desired, the fitness function is easily reconfigured with minimal programming skill and without knowledge of complex arithmetic.