Hannah Kim- Looking Outwards- 02

The project I chose is called “Boil Up” by Robert Hodgin, 2013. The project is a group dynamics simulation work that aims to replicate the behaviors of frenzied fish in plankton rich waters. Hodgin managed to simulate these behaviors, such as flocking, predator and obstacle avoidance, and pursuit, using code in complex 3D models. Hodgin claims that the task was particularly difficult because he had to figure out how to organize the fish and keep them corralled, without feeling like he was imposing unnatural restrictions on their behavior. I can really see Hodgin’s realistic artistic sensibilities coming out in his algorithms, seeing that he went from working with mathematical shapes, to pushing realistic and complex 3D models. I really admire this about his work, and how he was able to manipulate code to simulate such a complex and specific action/behavior. Seeing the result is surreal, and I really feel as if I am in the middle of this crazy fish feeding session, watching the animals swim around me.

Here is a link to the video:

Shark cam from flight404 on Vimeo.