Category: LookingOutwards-01

The piece of artwork I’ll be evaluating is an audio-reative visualizer called “Red and Blue” from Max MSP Youtuber, AmazingMaxStuff. It’s a device you can import into an audio project, in my case music, and edit parameters to make visuals that react to the audio project. I’m not sure how long it took to create, though looking into the projects code, it must have taken at least a few days of work (after years of learning Max MSP). Prior works the creator could be inspired by include visuals for sound waves, as the the project itself is very representative of how many audio devices depict sound in motion. ‘Red and Blue’ opens a lot of possibilities for Max MSP audio-reative visualizers, as it’s a complex, but easily understandable device that allows for plenty of customization for music artists to create visuals to all their audio’s work. The device itself requires a purchase, but here is a link to the Youtube video showcasing the device.

A creative computing project that I really admire are the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibits that have been in multiple cities. I love these immersive art installations because everyone there gets put into the art, surrounded by it, while also being told a narritive story with the works. These exhibites were designed by Massimiliano Siccardi in France, who has worked towards making projects like these for the past thirty years. To my knowledge, these installations were made by scanning Van Gogh’s paintings and using animation to then project them onto the walls. I think the creators would have been inspired by animatated works, but the invention in and of itself is fairly revolutionary. This opens up opportunities for immersive exhibits to be made for other artists as well, like people have already started doing with Monet’s works now. The purpose of these is to bring art to audiences everywhere in a new and exciting way, and it has been wildly successful.
https://www.immersivevangogh.com

There is this generative artist and software developer Lulu xXX who created this work of art called “Take me to the moon”. I don’t know how long it took them to make it but they design intimate and feminine artwork focusing on using 3D modeling and CGI. They build their own tools using custom/open-sourced code. They focus on beauty and iconography, which uses these visual images and symbols and helps us study the interpretation of them. Further, they use “optical flow analysis” to capture motion in their art and start generating this pixel aesthetic. I think this type of computational art is super important in understanding how activism and aesthetics and technology work together. Especially in modern times, its further important to look at how we can express women and cultures in a way that’s expressive and beautiful.

https://makersplace.com/luluxxx/feed/

As a highschooler in Silicon Valley, it was inevitable for my family to have tons of family friends that are very well involved in the CS scene, despite my family not having any computer or engineering backgrounds. One of our closest friends, Fengwei Lee and his startup, REALITEER, developed a series of VR/AR programs that aimed to use VR/AR to promote mental and physical well-being. These programs included games that had you mimic taichi, dance, and other types of choreography to a selected audio track, with lightsabers that were used to hit targets as they approached you. There were specific programs within for different purposes, such as relaxation, exercise, dance, and kids’ entertainment. As far as I know, his startup and him took nearly two year experimenting with different strategies and codes. Furthermore, from the finished product, the project used various commercial applications, like Unity, and original codes. I assume that the project was inspired by the creator, Fengwei’s time working in companies like Dreamwork, and his own family. This was a way to entertain and help people of all ages from toddlers to seniors to feel better. Moreover, revisiting this project made me think about the future of VR/AR – that computer science can have a much more obvious and tangible effect on the general public’s well being, in this case, encouraging people to be active mentally and physically. I also predict that as society becomes more and more digital, with the creation of platforms like the Meta Verse, developing health promoting Virtual and Augmented reality is critical.

Link to the start up and it’s projects: https://realiteer.com/about/

Recently, I’ve been interested in photogrammetry, most notably 3D rendering and editing. I’ve gotten a chance to work with photogrammetry in the past, though I’ve been fascinated in implementing these 3D models into graphic design. Lucas Milner, who runs a blog under his name: (lucasmilner.com/180523blog), documents his 3D modeling projects and I’ve found his work mesmerizing. Photogrammetry is used as a quick modeling creation tool, so Milner didn’t spend too much time on this project. Photogrammetry works by taking pictures of an object and scanning them through a software. What one does next with this render is up to the artist. Metashape is a popular program to create these models. Milner used his 3D model in order to create an entirely different shoe design; seemingly inspired by the many elaborate shoe advertisements that we’re often exposed to. This project is a clear example of taking something simple and creating an original, repurposed work out of it. One can use a simple object to create something entirely new and inspirational for their broader audience. This is exactly how art is created: an artist always has an inspiration, and with that they can implement their own vision into the mediums they see fit. Discovering art from other artists is what has fueled my own passion for creating, and I hope to be that inspiration for someone else, as well.