PLASM is an immersive, audiovisual installation and live performance that evokes an endless voyage through a continually transforming biological landscape. Inspired and informed by the work of computer science pioneer Alan Turing in mathematical biology, PLASM aims to explore and revive Turing’s research into the chemical basis of spontaneous pattern formation in the natural world (morphogenesis).
Large scale moving images and ambisonics soundscape immerse the visitor into an ever evolving environment of organic forms resembling living cells, tissues, organs and other lifelike formations. Through its continual generative system, PLASM exemplifies Norbert Wiener's famous adage that "We are but whirlpools in a river of ever-flowing water. Not stuff that abides but patterns that perpetuate themselves."

"Why and how do complex patterns like Zebra stripes, Leopard spots or Fish skin pigmentation emerge? In 1952 mathematician  Alan Turing wrote a radical paper in which he explored spontaneous pattern formation in biological systems. Termed “reaction-diffusion systems,” Turing developed the mathematical models to explore how certain chemical reactions that are similar suddenly develop into non-linear, “chaotic” patterns. It is Turing’s interest in how stable systems transform in dynamic, chaotic but ordered patterns that inspires Amsterdam based artist TeZ’s new monumental audio-visual installation PLASM. Utilizing large scale HD projection and multi-channel sound as well as unique custom developed software that implement Turing’s mathematical models, PLASM takes the viewer into a transforming landscape of organic forms,  seamlessly evolving through a generative composition."

Chris Salter

ARTIST'S NOTES:

This composition has no beginning and no end.

Like a life-like process, it’s an endless flow of mutations, seamlessly and constantly evolving.
Therefore each moment is unique and it’s not going to repeat ever again.

There are no pre-rendered images.
Each frame is re-generated, pixel by pixel, according to the original “reaction-diffusion” algorithm.

The soundtrack and the ambisonics spatialization are generative too.
Synthesized and recorded fragments are constantly reprocessed and recombined in unpredictable ways.
The same goes for the spatial localization of individual sound sources.

LITERATURE:

- Alan M. Turing: "The Chemical Basis of Morphogenesis"

- Jonathan McCabe: "Cyclic Symmetric Multi-Scale Turing Patterns"

- Greg Turk: "Generating Textures on Arbitrary Surfaces Using Reaction-Diffusion"

- Leppänen, Karttunen, Barrio, Kaski: "Turing Systems as Models of Complex Pattern Formation"

- Peng Feng: "Patterns In Nature And The Mathematics Behind It"

- Froese, Woodward, Ikegami: "Turing instabilities in biology, culture, and consciousness?"

- The Turing Digital Archive

CREDITS

-   artistic direction / sound and visual design / software:   TeZ

-   graphic engine / gpu implementation:  Daniel Berio

-   additional software:  Luis Rodil-Fernández

-   additional visual design :  Panagiotis Tomaras

-   original algorithm:  Jonathan McCabe

PLASM was generously supported by:

Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst,  Mondriaan Fonds,  Optofonica,  USF Tampa,  Hexagram-Concordia Montreal


additional thanks to:
Chris Salter, M. Elena Camilli, Sonia Cillari, Alain Thibault, David Fries, Alex Gamez, Arjen Bangma,
Flussi festival, Piemonte Share festival, Rob & Nora, Adi Newton

feel welcome to contact TeZ for any questions