Edge of Space #72/100

Atoms react and materials move, yet our instinct is often to dampen these forces: we build to last, to comfort, to protect – and in doing so, we delineate space with structures that masquerade as static. Dynamism is reduced to an imperceptible tremor.

‘Edge of Space’ sets in motion a process for making structures that are deliberately loose and constantly evolving. The curves and surfaces delineating and connecting regions of space are not directly derived, but instead emerge from a choreography of influences between rendered material and systems of hidden forces.

Contrast and color – a mapping of the orientation of rendered elements as they move through space – serve to highlight the underlying dynamics driving these structures as they fluctuate between formation and dissolution. Like the movement of mountains over millennia or rip currents between tides, structures and transformations are closely intertwined. It is this elemental idea that I wish to articulate with this work.

‘Edge of Space’ is a generator of images that may be individually printed or collectively viewed as an animation that ends where it begins. The infinite loop allows each generated video to stand alone as a complete embodiment of the art. The ‘size’ and ‘cycle’ url parameters can be used to customize the size of the image and the length of the animation loop. Key controls are [s] save image, [p] pause, [r] resume, [←] previous frame and [→] next frame. Visit the project website for more information. Webgl2 is required. Modern hardware is recommended.