FrozenGradient

Frozen Gradient

Frozen Gradient is an immersive art installation that combines AI technology, relational architecture, and minimalistic aesthetics. The installation aims to captivate audiences with a mesmerising display of dynamic gradients and an AI-generated soundscape.

Dynamic gradients and an AI-generated soundscape transform the space with shifting colors, creating an abstract, immersive experience. Viewers can lose themselves in the beauty and wonder of the changing projections but there is more behind.

Inspired by the journey from melting icebergs to the ocean’s depths, the installation subtly invites viewers to reflect on transformation and change while being entranced by the immersive colors and patterns. Are we part of the transformation or mere observers?

The installation was specifically designed for the MachineHalle at the KunstKraftwerk in Leipzig.

It will be presented on 5-9-2024 in private screening at KunstKraftWerk.

Narrative

The immersive journey of Frozen Gradient begins in the Twilight phase, where visitors find themselves either sitting or walking within the hall. As the lights gradually dim and music softly begins to play, a twilight ambience is conjured, transporting the audience to the Antarctic Sea. The soundscape, featuring ocean waves, ambient nature sounds, and instrumental music, enhances this atmosphere. Visuals of red-orange gradients emerge between the columns, creating flowing waves of color. A synchronised blue wave rises from the floor, which itself is adorned with a dark blue gradient and ice textures. Over time, these colors transition from red-orange to a serene light blue-green, setting the stage for the next phase.

 

In the Ice Environment, the fading twilight colors give way to a new gradient with triangular tessellations appearing on the columns. This dual-gradient effect captivates the audience as the soundscape shifts to a stormy sea atmosphere, incorporating drum and bass, electronic, ambient, and dramatic elements. The light blue-green-dark palette of the new gradient, synchronized with the music, creates a dynamic and vibrant triangular geometric color experience that envelops the viewers. The triangular tessellations gradually take over the entire space, transforming it into a mesmerizing display.

 

The Deep Environment phase sees the triangular tessellations slowly fading away, making room for a dark grey-blue-green gradient that envelops the entire hall. The soundscape transitions to the profound silence of the deep sea, accompanied by the haunting calls of whales. Small lights begin to illuminate the space, creating an ethereal glow. Black-and-white shapes start to emerge, moving around and gradually dominating the tiny lights, evoking the stillness and mystery of the deep ocean.

 

Finally, in the Dawn phase, the colors and shapes gently fade out, leaving the soundscape to linger in the dark space momentarily. As the sound ceases, the lights gradually come back, signaling the end of this immersive experience.

 

This narrative structure guides the audience through an evocative journey, blending sound and visuals to create an abstract exploration of natural transformations and the beauty of dynamic gradients.

Concept Details

Technical

The experience is 7 minutes long.

The content is made with TouchDesigner in a virtual production environment. It uses modern rendering techniques to achieve fast rendering with the full resolution required of the Maschinenhalle (18,792×5,374).

Mood board

This is the Figma Mood board using during the concept production.

FigJam board

Early versions

This YouTube playlist contains early versions of the content created.

YouTube Playlist

Twilight

  • Setting: Visitors sit or walk in the hall.
  • Transition: The lights dim, music begins to play, and a subtle twilight ambiance is created.
  • Soundscape: The soundscape prompts into twilight in the Antarctic Sea, ocean waves, ambient nature sounds, and instrumental music.
  • Visuals:
    • A gradient of red-orange hues fades in between the columns, with flowing waves of color.
    • A blue wave rises from the bottom, synchronized with the music.
    • The floor displays a dark blue gradient with ice textures.
  • Transformation: Gradually, the gradient shifts from red-orange to light blue-green, setting the stage for the next phase.

Ice Enviroment

  • Transition: As the twilight colors fade into light blue-green hues, a new gradient with triangular tessellations appears on the columns, creating a dual-gradient effect.
  • Soundscape: The soundscape transitions, or prompts, to a stormy sea atmosphere, featuring an instrumental soundtrack with drum and bass, electronic, ambient, and dramatic elements.
  • Visuals:
    • The new gradient on the columns features a light blue-green-dark palette, with light reflections synchronising with the music.
    • The combined gradients and dynamic soundscape create a vibrant triangular geometric color experience that envelops the audience.
  • Transformation: The triangular tessellations on the columns slowly take all over the space.

Deep Environment:

  • Transition: The triangular tessellations between the columns gradually fade away, making way for a dark grey-blue-green gradient that slowly envelops the entire space.
  • Soundscape: The soundscape shifts to the serene yet profound silence of the deep sea, accompanied by whale sounds.
  • Visuals:
    • Small lights begin to brighten the space, creating an ethereal glow.
    • Black-and-white shapes emerge, moving around and gradually taking over the small lights.
  • Transformation: The space takes colors from the deep ocean environment, evoking the stillness and mystery of the deep sea.

Dawn:

  • Transition:
    • The colors and shapes fade out, leaving the soundscape to linger in the dark space for a moment.
    • The sound stops.
    • Lights gradually fade back in, signalling the end of the immersive experience.