VENUE: ITP Spring Show 2006

DESCRIPTION:

The “PLASM” motion piece is an abstract / experimental visualization of a musical composition by the same name inspired by the mysterious properties of the 4th state of matter, plasma.

PERSONAL STATEMENT:

It is speculated that 99% of the known universe is composed of plasma. On earth we live in a bubble of “ordinary” matter states such as solid, liquid, gas. Such phenomena as lightenting, solar eclipses, auroras, nuclear fusion, interstellar nebulas provide infinite wonder in that context. Although not intended to present a scientifically accurate representation of plasma flow, “PLASM” is intended to provide the same visual pleasure as one might experience observing star formation from the Hubble telescope or conversely seeing plasma ion fusion through a microscope.

BACKGROUND:

The soundtrack for this video was composed in Ableton Live using ambient noises that simulate air or other gases expanding and contracting in bubbles of various density and excitement. similar noises were then “tuned” and melodic phrases were constructed to give the sound more color. rhythmic phrases were added to give contenuity to the piece. Then some algorhythms for randomizing its phrases were developed in MAX/MSP for Daniel Palkowski’s Digital Sound Workshop class.

The visual piece was created using a combination of MAYA 3D and After Effects for a final project in the Virtual and The Real 3D class taught Jean-Marc Gaultier at NYU-ITP. In the course of developing the particle systems and various physical properties (gravity fields and vortexes) that define this simulated microcosm of “PLASM”, I began to free associate the visual results with personal notions of how thoughts and ideas are transmitted and changed from person to person, culture to culture (memes) in a similar fashion as plasma fusion and even cellular mitosis and viral mutation. This free association lead to some further abstraction of the initial visualization and I believe a richer piece of art.

Full video with soundtrack will be posted later this week.

Download a preview file

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• connected LED: Arduino digital I/O 7
• connecting LED: Arduino digital I/O 8
• requesting LED: Arduino digital I/O 9
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