I’ve decided to focus on “Life on Europa” as my project as it includes both space and DNA related thingy (sort of).
After doing some research about Europa and reading about the news NASA recently released which, created quite a hype among scientist, I’ve decided to do a short abstract film based on it.
Here is a rough timeline on how I would be doing this film. It’s still going to be an abstract film as I’ve decided to stick with it being abstract rather than focusing on the storyline.
The starting scene would be similar to this inspired shot of the interstellar Jupiter scene which I found online.
It would be an introduction scene to Jupiter before zooming in to Jupiter’s surface/Europa.
Credits: Rinalds Stradins
Timeline:
Introduction of space & Jupiter
Introduction of Europa (Freezing moon)
Icy water crust (Water VFX)
Zooming in to show presence of micro-organism (Insects)
Zooming in to the micro-organisms
Macro shot of the micro-organisms
DNA, cells etc…
DNA branching out to form alien’s DNA (To indicate that there might be other life form living in Jupiter)
Creation. Every part of our body can be traced back to the genes that defined us. At that sacred moment in time when we were born, the combination of the two DNA halves containing genes from our parents provided all the information necessary to define, create and sustain us which will then be pass down to our offspring.
Design/ Methodology/Approach
This project is an abstract installation relating to the science behind DNA. The mystery of our genes and how each of us are unique but still connected in ways, ways that we couldn’t imagine and unite us altogether as well as how our genes defined each of us.
Objectives of this project is achieved mainly through interactive visual effects and audio recordings.
The visual part of this project is done using Houdini, a procedural content creation tool mainly for film, games and TV.
While the audio will be done through live recording of the environment/ambient sound and voices of humans.
Interactive part is still an option as to whether I’ll be able to transfer my work to TouchDesigner, a realtime software mainly used for installations, a visual development platform that equips you with the tools you need to create stunning realtime projects and rich user experiences.
Originality /Value
I hope to explore the mystery of our bodies and how it works through this project. Even though its an abstract installation which might only exist in thought or as an idea without having any physical or concrete existence/evidence, but I hope to be able to reach out to the audience and to let them experience and relate to my art which seeks to achieve the effect using visual effects.
After last week consultation, I dive straight into looking at microscopic images of brain, cells & other related imageries and I find them really fascinating.
One common thing that I’ve found among all my research is that they all have this “veiny” looking structure, almost like a vector line art which I thought was pretty interesting.
Based on the images, I managed to find some VFX reference artists who do something similarish in Houdini (the software that I’ll be using) and tried to recreate it and setting up some tools that might be useful.
Particle physics (also high energy physics) is the branch of physics that studies the nature of the particles that constitute matter (particles with mass) and radiation (massless particles).
Here’s a website where they curated a whole list of videos dedicated to Higgs Boson to learn more about it.
Credits: MinutePhysics
Minute Physics provides an energetic and entertaining view of old and new problems in physics — all in a minute!
This particular video was rather interesting in how they explained Higgs Boson. You can continue Part II and Part III to finish the series 😀
I think this topic would be quite fun to work with since this was a pretty recent thing that they just discovered back in 2012. What is well known about Boson is that they break symmetry and how it creates mass.
I personally find it interesting about the breaking of symmetry as we have always been used to seeings things in symmetry and would definitely be an experience to be able to see things from a different perspective whereby the audience will be able to experience a different kind of kaleidoscope.
Recently on my exchange, I managed to have time and the freedom to experiment with something that I’ve always wanted to try.
I thought it look rather similar (or in my opinion) to some of the visual references that I’ve found based on Higgs Boson. Except that mine are pretty much mostly symmetrical.
https://www.pinterest.com/pamelapng/fyp/
#2 Astrophysics
I would like to experiment and branch out into 2 different topics for Astrophysics.
Nebula(A nebula (Latin for “cloud”; nebulae, nebulæ, or nebulas) is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen, helium and other ionised gases.)
Galaxy (A galaxy is a gravitationally bound system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter.)
I remember going to a planetarium show in a Science museum in California and I was so amazed by how immersive and how majestic it felt to be able to see the space so up close and feeling like I was floating in it and I really want to be able to recreate something similar and have the audience be able to feel the wonders of the galaxies and the nebulas.
Being able to see the wonders of the galaxies and marvel at their beauty.
Some visuals which are what I would like to use as reference if I’m doing this topic. Mainly for the colors as well as the movement of the camera and how it envelopes the whole screen.
Credits: Ahmed Gharraph
Credits: Jason Burton
Credits: Rusholme Productions
Credits: Vahik Asoyan
Credits: Matthias Müller
Matthias is someone I’ve been following since quite some time. I’m always amazed at his visuals and his choice of audio would fit in so nicely. I admired his work a lot and really love his creation and I would like replicate something similar as part of my FYP project.
Credits: PostPanic
This is a short film about Voyager 1 and I think it’s a really beautiful film combined with audio and wonderful visuals. The director wanted to show that the universe was a beautiful but also destructive place. Which I strongly agree.
I will still be looking/research for more upcoming themes that I would to work on and be more detailed in my research.
Preferably, I would really like to experiment with planetarium and have my work shown in a dome theatre whereby people would be able to be immersed in the environment which I’ve created.
I guess the biggest difference between planetarium and LEDs are that planetariums’ dominant feature is the large dome-shaped projection screen onto which scenes of whatever environment we’ve build in CG can be made to appear and move realistically to simulate the complex motion and even the feeling of moving within the provided space as we are able to project and see it in different perspectives. Whereas for LED panel installation, everything is pretty much standstill and in just one point of view. Probably won’t be as immersive as I would like it to be.
I managed to experience planetarium shows twice when I was overseas and the feeling of being able to see space in such an immersive environment was truly an amazing feeling.
But of course, LED also does put audience in a immersive environment as well because we are able to go up close with it and see it in full view.
I’m hoping to do up a multimedia immersive environment installation and hopefully including some audio visuals as well, whereby it will be an experiment on abstraction, symmetry, movements and audio.
I’ll mostly be experimenting with abstract visual effects such as particles, fluids and fractals.
The medium/software that I’ve chosen would most probably be Houdini and I’m hoping to use TouchDesigner as well.
References:
Credits: Knewave LTD
An immersive 3D Holographic Projection as part of an opening sequence for a EDM night.
Credits: Refik Anado
An immersive environment project which is a research on audio/visual installations by using the state called immersion which is the state of consciousness where an immersant’s awareness of physical self is transformed by being surrounded in an engrossing environment; often artificial, creating a perception of presence in a non-physical world.
Credits: Robert Seidel
An immersive experience, a sensuous dip into light, color, movement, sound and change.
Credits: Joanie Lemercier
Nimbes explores the ontology of observation and its relationship to cosmogony, notions of intelligence and individuality.
Credits: MatthiasM.de
Audio/Visual
I’m hoping to look/experiment with something more “space” like and fantasy.
