Enigma
Project page: https://artblocks.io/project/439
Inspiration and Beauty of Isometric Perspective
During a trip to San Francisco, I came across a few stunning buildings with intricate details and unique construction styles, which became my main source of inspiration for this project. Captivated by their designs, I was inspired to create something relating to structures and buildings. This led me to explore isometric views, which fascinated me because of their ability to create captivating illusions of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional plane. Specifically, I find isometric views appealing as they create a sense of order and balance in the composition. The use of clean lines and geometric shapes can create a sense of precision and harmony that is both aesthetically pleasing and conceptually interesting. I was able to incorporate these concepts into the structures formed in Enigma, which have a sense of balance, symmetry, and connection, creating a feeling of stability and order that can be particularly satisfying to look at.
Pictures of the buildings I took during my trip:
Added Realism
Mirage
A unique feature of Enigma is the “Mirage” effect, which creates a mirror reflection of the structure that gives the illusion of an invisible surface on which the structure is placed. This effect is an intentional and carefully crafted detail that enhances the overall design and depth of the structure. By incorporating this element, the artwork takes on a more realistic touch, almost as if the viewer is looking at a photograph of the structure situated in its actual environment. The reflection also adds a sense of dimension to the composition and creates an extra element of interest and immersion for the viewer as the structure appears to extend beyond the bounds of the artwork, as if it were a part of a larger scene.
Transmutations
Enigma uses a variety of transformations that are carefully crafted to add an intriguing layer to the structures. The transformations in the project are Undulation, Whorl, and Sand. Undulation transforms the structure in a way that creates an illusion of movement and motion, along with highlighting its fluidity. Whorl creates a small whirlpool-like shape around the edges of the structures, making them appear as if the structure is moving at a high speed. It also adds to the effect of motion-blur, which makes the structures look even more dynamic. Sand creates a visual effect that gives the impression of the structure breaking apart and scattering in all directions, reminiscent of the way sand behaves when thrown. The inspiration for this effect came to me while I was at the beach, where I observed how sand looks when it is thrown and wanted to capture that sense of movement in the structure. This effect was particularly challenging, as it required careful consideration to maintain the structure’s shape while achieving a dispersion-like effect. These transformations added a new dimension to the structures and showcased the project’s ingenuity and creativity. In addition to the various transformations, there are also instances where no transformation is applied, allowing the focus to remain solely on the intricate structure itself. This choice was made to maintain a balance between complexity and simplicity within the artwork.
Position and Point of View
The deliberate placement of the structures in the Enigma is another key element of the project. They are positioned in a way that emphasizes their unique design and construction. Some structures appear to be resting on a surface, while others are positioned on their edges, almost balanced only on that, giving the artwork a sense of realism. Each structure features a ‘Viewpoint’ from a specific angle that has been chosen to showcase the connections and details of the structure. Depending on the chosen viewpoint, the structure can give the impression of being viewed from different angles, such as from below, the front, or above in an isometric view.
Style
The structures featured in this project are uniquely designed with distinct styles and variations, completely transforming their appearance.
‘Aperture’ refers to a gap within the structure’s shape, where the structure’s connecting lines are not present, creating an illusion of a free-standing form while still maintaining its shape.
‘Sole’ refers to the structure constructed solely through interconnected lines, appearing as if they’re blending into one another without any clear joining points.
‘Delta’ represents an offset in the structure’s connecting lines that creates an illusion of added depth and dimension.
‘Standard’ refers to the form of the structure without any applied styles.
Technical Viewpoints
The structures in Enigma are constructed with a particular geometric order. The placement of points is an essential aspect of the project, and the algorithm used to generate these points ensures that each one is carefully placed based on its relationship to the others. As a result, the connections between these points appear incomprehensible and puzzling, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the structure.
Features
Span
“Span” refers to the size of the individual blocks that are connected together to form the structure. These include ‘Mini,’ ‘Small,’ ‘Medium,’ and ‘Large.’
Style
“Style” refers to the additional elements and variations added to the structure, previously described.
Glitch
“Glitch” refers to the glitch effect that adds a futuristic distortion, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the artwork and symbolizing the fusion of modern art with these geometric structures.
Mirage
“Mirage” refers to the fading reflection of the structure described earlier.
Palette
There are twenty-four thoughtfully selected color palettes that take into account both the aesthetic appeal and the harmony of the color combinations.
Viewpoint
“Viewpoint” refers to the specific angle or point of view that has been chosen to showcase the structure, described earlier.
Transmutations
“Transmutations” refers to the several effects applied on the structure, previously mentioned.
Colors
The choice of color palette for this project was a crucial part of the creative process, as it had to complement the geometric design of the structures. The selection of each color was made with careful consideration of lighting and angles to determine how the colors would appear from different viewpoints and if the color on each side of the structure looked appealing. There are twenty carefully chosen color palettes in total and finding the right combinations of colors that worked well together and highlighted the geometric aspects of the structures required a great deal of refinement.
My Journey
I began my artistic journey fifteen years ago with traditional art mediums such as clay art, murals, and painting. Over time, I became interested in exploring various art forms and discovered digital art and generative art, which fascinated me due to its unique and versatile possibilities.With my experience in these fields, I was able to develop a strong ability to produce pleasing color combinations and patterns. I spent a significant amount of time refining this project over the last year, constantly feeling the need to add more. I am very glad to launch this project on Art Blocks, which has been a continuous source of inspiration for me since its launch.
