An algorithm for one-stroke kolam generation using a gating structure

Overview

This research addresses the computational generation of kolam, a traditional floor art form from southern India characterized by intricate patterns drawn around gridded anchor-dots. The study presents an algorithm designed to autonomously produce one-stroke kolams of arbitrary dimensions, maintaining both geometric symmetry and aesthetic coherence throughout a continuous path. The approach incorporates a gating mechanism that regulates the kolam's trajectory around each anchor-dot, enabling the generation of complete patterns without lifting the drawing instrument. The work situates itself within digital preservation objectives for kolam heritage, acknowledging potential tensions between computational automation and traditional human artistic practice.

Methods and approach

The algorithm builds upon a mathematical formalization of kolam path evolution, utilizing an iterative gate-switching scheme as its core mechanism. Anchor-dots are arranged symmetrically on a regular grid, with gating structures serving as directional guides that constrain the path's movement around each dot. The gate-switching methodology operates iteratively to maintain symmetry properties while ensuring the generated pattern constitutes a single continuous stroke. The approach accommodates arbitrary grid dimensions, demonstrating scalability across varying design parameters. Aesthetic assessment of generated kolams was conducted through survey-based evaluation of a sample of computationally produced patterns.

Key Findings

The algorithm successfully generated one-stroke kolams across multiple dimensions, producing patterns that exhibit both geometric symmetry and continuous path integrity. Survey-based assessment of generated kolams indicates that the computational approach achieves adequate aesthetic outcomes, suggesting the method produces visually coherent patterns consistent with kolam traditions. The versatility of the approach is demonstrated through the generation of kolams at varying scales, indicating that the gating structure effectively generalizes across different grid configurations.

Implications

This work contributes a formal computational framework for generating traditional kolam patterns, extending the scope of digital preservation methodologies toward active generation rather than passive archiving. By automating kolam creation, the approach addresses the erosion of this cultural practice due to societal transformations, potentially enabling continued engagement with the artform through computational means. The algorithm's capacity to generate large-scale, aesthetically consistent patterns at computational speed provides a technical foundation for widespread kolam production and distribution in digital contexts.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.