[ Generative ]
Light Doesn't Bend That Way
Lars Wander
An exploration of light, grounded in physical reality, but reinterpreted through code. Each scene is set with only a handful of spheres in motion, some refracting, and the rest emitting computer-simulated rays of light. Billions of these rays are cast through the scene, each with their own wavelength and phase determining their complete trajectory and final color contribution to the image. This detailed and physically-based approach to rendering allows the program to produce images that are simultaneously rooted in reality, but also transcend it by bending rules and allowing for observations in a way only possible through simulation.
These experiments lie at the intersection of art, technology, and science, and they are born from my own sense of wonder and awe with the medium of computer artwork. They represent a study of motion, light, and simple geometric forms, which through simulation challenge the relationship between the physical and the digital.
About The Artist
Lars Wander is a computer artist and programmer who exclusively creates art using code. His creative process involves spending significant time contemplating and sketching ideas for intriguing software systems. He establishes a set of rules that serve as the sole human input in generating each piece. By evaluating these rules, the machine generates unique and unpredictable outcomes. In Wander's creative approach, he emphasizes the importance of simple tools and often designs and constructs his own. He believes that the tools he uses greatly influence the final result of his artwork. Consequently, producing and maintaining his own tools is a source of joy for Lars. He employs vanilla Javascript and WebGL2 to generate his artwork. To maintain simplicity, Lars uses a local HTTP server to serve unbundled Javascript and incorporate shared and developed libraries across projects. He favors working on Linux due to its programmer-friendly environment. For plotter projects, Wander initially used Python but later switched to Julia, a high-performance language developed at MIT for scientific computing. This transition was necessary to address performance issues while ensuring ease of development. Despite Lars Wander's complete control over his creative process, he occasionally encounters moments where the computer's actions surprise him, almost magically. As an artist, he strives to capture these moments of unexpected beauty through algorithmic art.
