Luciferin I (2021)
LUCIFERIN I
Luciferin I - Light Orgy, is the first in a series of studies of male firefly mating communications. This work covers three separate species of fireflies. Though often observed together in the natural world, the artwork separates the species into each their own monolithic enclosure, so each can be observed in isolation, revealing the unique traits of lighting patterns used in the mating communication when displayed next to each other.
This artwork is generative, so flight patterns do not repeat. The code is based on articles and video studies from researchers around the globe, that the artist has carefully reviewed and implemented.
Luciferin is the name of the molecule that allows fireflies to emit light.
Luciferin I - Light Orgy consists of:
Photinus pyralis, the J-stroke firefly
Photinus carolinus, the synchronous firefly
Phausis reticulata, the blue ghost firefly.
CREDITS
Custom shader code, LED matrix display, Acrylic, Custom 3D printed parts, Raspberry Pi.
Exhibitions
Movement and Meaning, February 1-30 April 2021
SFA Projects, New York
Group exhibition with Barak Chamo, Louise Lessél, Mohammad Rahmani, and Jason Yung
Link
THE NEW NEW, August 18 - September 18, 2022
Myta Sayo Gallery, Toronto
Group exhibition with Louise Lessél, Jason Yung, Aidan Fowler, and Markus Heckmann
Link
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Luciferin II (2024)
LUCIFERIN II
Luciferin II captures the unique lighting patterns used in the mating communication of the Photinus pyralis / the J-stroke firefly, the Photinus carolinus / the synchronous firefly, and Phausis reticulata / the blue ghost firefly.
Their communication in nature is incredibly precise and synched to intervals unique to each species. Sinusoidal functions describe the fireflies' paths in this generative code artwork and aims to bring the viewer into a deep state of relaxation by inducing sine rhythms also studied in sleep meditation.
Each firefly species follows sine wave paths that are randomly generated upon loading the artwork. The different species follow rules from the natural counterpart such as: flash mainly on an upward stroke - characteristic to the J-stroke firefly, buzz around in shorter wavelike movements - known from the blue ghost, or synch up the display of light amongst all fireflies in intervals - know from the synchronous firefly.
The code is based on articles and video studies from researchers around the globe, that the artist has carefully reviewed and implemented. Luciferin is the name of the molecule that allows fireflies to emit light. This is the second iteration of the Luciferin series that the artist is undertaking. The code has been adapted to this new only format and sinewave paths adjusted.
The artwork is best viewed in a dark room, and can be observed directly, or can illuminate the room as a single window into another world.
CREDITS
Custom shader code, glsl
Exhibitions
[Online exhibition], 2024
Coming soon