Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges

Summary

Human brain processes sensory information to create our perception of 3D space, but higher-dimensional spaces, referred to as hyperspaces, are possible to exist. Although the existence of hyperspaces is not yet proven, they have gained interest among scientists, artists and philosophers. In our artistic exploration of hyperspaces, our interactive audiovisual art holographic installation draws inspiration from the rotation of a hypercube in the fourth spatial dimension, projected into the third dimension, and the shape of a Lorentz attractor, forming a fourth-dimensional butterfly. This hyperspatial butterfly, seemingly perturbed by the presence of visitors, exhibits movement between the three-dimensional hologram and the two-dimensional video projection by traversing fractional dimensions.

Objective

Our holographic interactive art installation addresses the challenges associated with approaching, perceiving, and artistically portraying hyperspaces. The holographic representation of the four-dimensional butterfly is created through a synthesis of the hypercube's rotation in the fourth spatial dimension, projected into three-dimensional space, and the form of the Lorentz attractor from Chaos Theory.

Any endeavor by a visitor to approach the three-dimensional hologram of the butterfly proves futile, as it continually retreats and transforms into a video projection on a distant two-dimensional surface—a wall. The butterfly's existence is encapsulated within spaces of varying dimensions: it manifests as a rotation of the hypercube in the fourth spatial dimension, a three-dimensional hologram, and a two-dimensional video projection.

Furthermore, the movement of the hyperspatial butterfly from the three-dimensional hologram to the two-dimensional video projection signifies a transition to an intermediate space characterized by fractional dimensions situated between the third and second spatial dimensions. The proposition of such an intermediate space aligns with the concepts introduced in Chaos Theory.

Our installation was showcased at the 16th Audiovisual Arts Festival held in Corfu from May 11 to May 29, 2023. This event was organized by the Department of Audio & Visual Arts, Ionian University.

Method

The installation comprises a holographic projection apparatus employing the "Peppergram" technique, featuring a four-dimensional butterfly projected onto a rectangular polycarbonate glass surface. This apparatus is complemented by a motion detector and a video projector. In the absence of visitor detection by the motion detector, the butterfly is projected as a hologram, exhibiting subtle rotational motions within the composite projection of the hypercube and the Lorentz attractor.

Upon the detection of a visitor's approach, the holographic projection of the hyperspace butterfly ceases, and the butterfly is instead projected onto a distant screen through a two-dimensional video format. In this mode, the butterfly engages in playful movements reminiscent of a live butterfly, evading the observer in a whimsical manner.

Conclusion

The endeavor to comprehend higher spatial dimensions is a realm in which the collaboration between art and science, facilitated by modern technology, can yield tangible outcomes. The amalgamation of computer science, sensory technology, and artistic proficiency has given birth to an innovative professional domain known as "Technartist." This emerging field represents a convergence of disciplines, harnessing the capabilities of modern technology to explore and articulate the intricacies of spatial dimensions beyond conventional perception.

References

Gleick, J. (1987) Chaos: Making a New Science. N.Y. :Viking Books.

Henderson, L. D. (2013) The Fourth Dimension and Non – Euclidean Geometry in Modern Art. Cambridge. MA: MIT Press.

Kanellopoulos, N. (2017) ‘From Antikythera Analogue Computer to Quantum Computer’. In Proceedings of the Audiovisual Arts Conference, Athens Concert Hall, Athens, Greece, 20–21 May 2017.

Pepper, J. H. (1890) The True History of the Ghost. London: Cassell & Co.

Schleicher, D. (2007) ‘Hausdorff Dimension, its Properties, and its Surprises’, The American Mathematical Monthly, vol. 114, pp. 509–28.

Traperas, D., Georgiou, A. and Kanellopoulos, N. (2023) ’ “It is difficult to catch a hyperspatial butterfly”: Audiovisual holographic interactive art installation.’ 16th Audiovisual Arts Festival. Department of Audio & Visual Arts, Ionian University. Corfu, 11-29 May.