Shadows of the North.
Shadows of the North is a generative art project that intertwines the stories of Canadian Refugee Immigration Detainees with evocative visuals, shedding light on their experiences. This piece delves into the aesthetic of invisibility, creating a resonant echo between the hopeful anticipation of immigrants and the stark reality they face. Through the counterpoint of shadow and light, the project seeks to bring forth the emotional discord experienced by those detained. Commissioned by Amnesty International Canada, the project was developed in collaboration with researchers from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The Specs.
- Role: Co-Creator, Co-Visual Designer, Developer
- Technologies used: THREE.js, GLSL (shaders), JavaScript, HTML/CSS
- Development time: 6 months
- Publication: Available online, also showcased at various exhibitions and conferences
- Website: http://www.shadowsofthenorth.com/
The Specs.
- Role: Co-Creator, Co-Visual Designer, Developer
- Technologies used: THREE.js, GLSL (shaders), JavaScript, HTML/CSS
- Development time: 6 months
- Publication: Available online, also showcased at various exhibitions and conferences
- Website: http://www.shadowsofthenorth.com/
Challenges.
- Designing visuals that authentically resonated with the spoken words of Immigration Detainees while maintaining an organic and uncontrived feel.
- Ensuring the visuals performed smoothly across all devices without compromising on quality.
Challenges.
- Designing visuals that authentically resonated with the spoken words of Immigration Detainees while maintaining an organic and uncontrived feel.
- Ensuring the visuals performed smoothly across all devices without compromising on quality.
Solutions.
- Employed a 'sculpting with code' methodology, starting with simple shapes and iteratively molding them into dynamic forms while immersing ourselves in the detainees' stories.
- Optimized the shader code to achieve both performance and visual fidelity, ensuring the piece could run efficiently across platforms.
Solutions.
- Employed a 'sculpting with code' methodology, starting with simple shapes and iteratively molding them into dynamic forms while immersing ourselves in the detainees' stories.
- Optimized the shader code to achieve both performance and visual fidelity, ensuring the piece could run efficiently across platforms.
Successes & Lessons Learned.
- The emotional impact during showings was profound, igniting passions and influencing key figures, including members of parliament, who were moved to action after experiencing the piece.
- This project introduced me to a new design and development approach, blending engineering precision with the tactile, intuitive process of sculpting. It was a transformative experience that reshaped my creative and technical methodologies.
Successes & Lessons Learned.
- The emotional impact during showings was profound, igniting passions and influencing key figures, including members of parliament, who were moved to action after experiencing the piece.
- This project introduced me to a new design and development approach, blending engineering precision with the tactile, intuitive process of sculpting. It was a transformative experience that reshaped my creative and technical methodologies.
