Twisted Crystals

Doug Foster’s video Twisted Crystals was inspired by the microscopic motion that takes place inside the pixels of liquid crystal displays, such as the displays used as television and computer screens. Footage of rotating crystalline materials - like glass, quartz and amethyst - was repeated, mirrored and expanded using an editing process that echoes the way that crystals grow in nature.

The visual experience is enhanced by a one hertz base rhythm imposed on the imagery and accompanying soundtrack - one hertz being one of the most effective frequencies for calming human brain activity. The rhythm propagates many other audiovisual frequencies that interplay and slip out of phase with each other.

The result is a constantly transforming mandala that mesmerises and calms simultaneously, leading to a beautiful and evolving cyclical experience.