John Conway was a mathematician known for his love of games and puzzles. Among his many achievements, he was most well-known for inventing the Game of Life in 1970. This cellular automaton aimed to describe how complex forms of life can evolve from a simple initial state. In this simulation, any given square cell on a grid can either be alive or dead. Between each generation, interactions between cells and their neighbors determine which cells die off from overpopulation or isolation, and which cells are born anew. Throughout his life, Conway used his love for games, puzzles, and magic tricks to uncover new frontiers in mathematics and inspire countless others to follow in his work. Conway died on Saturday, April 11, 2020, from complications related to COVID-19. He was 82.

I was not lucky enough to know John Conway personally, but I had the pleasure of seeing him once. I found him solving a small wooden puzzle in the halls of Princeton in 2017, referencing a small book he co-authored as he toyed with the blocks. To me, Conway embodied a way of thinking about the world through the process of play. I’m always inspired by his exploratory approach to problem solving. A methodology which is infinitely adaptable.

Creation, Solution, Translation, Dissolution, Reproduction. Simplicity holds the power to reveal great complexity.

Special thanks to Sebastian Suarez-Solis (cbassuarez.com) for their help on this piece.

Links: Score

Recorded by Cameron Church (puzzle, piano, video editing) and Sebastian Suarez-Solis (puzzle, viola da gamba, director of photography)