Caroline Song – Looking Outward 03

In response to the creation of GLASS II, which is a large-scale manufacturing technology that can 3D print transparent glass structures at architectural dimensions, an installation as part of Milan Design Week was made in 2017 by the Mediated Matter group.

These three columns of glass shown in the picture below have a constantly changing surface, being able to disperse and concentrate light from the inside and outside of the structure.

I admire this project because of its use of glass, which is a beautiful but difficult medium to work with because of its fragility. 3D printing is such a commonality at this point, and bringing in a new medium for it to be able to print: glass, is interesting and very admirable.

I do not know much about the algorithms that produced this work, however I believe that the algorithm must have taken into account the constraints of the medium that it is working with. Because of the constantly changing shapes of the structure, the algorithm must have also been aware of that ever-changing surface area, and worked accordingly.

The artists’ creative tendencies manifest itself throughout the exhibit as the delicate fractals that create different shapes throughout the space, and the shifting forms of glass must have had to be precisely arranged and purposefully done in order to achieve some mood by the audience who is watching this exhibit.