Initial installation at Technorama – Swiss Science Center on permanent display since 5.December 2024
The projector is designed to minimize distraction and enhance the perception of pareidolia by emphasizing depth and plasticity.
A two axis rotation system guarantees no repetition. The form of the ball takes the sense of orientation of the rotational motion.
Using a combination of lighting, tiling and lens equation the illusion occurs that the focal plane emerges with the depth of field, ensuring a unique and non-repetitive visual experience.
In the Technorama Swiss Science Center the projector employs an 80000-lumen white LED light source, focused on a 50mm Airy disc. The light passes through an f/high aperture before interacting with two 100/140mm cylindrical caustic beam shapers made of BK7 glass. From there, the caustic pattern travels through a light stray tube illuminating a 82mm quasi-random tiling ball constructed from dichroic beam splitters, B-270 glass, B-33 glass and optical resin. This quasi-random tiling ball is the framework of the projection.
The light stray tube, positioned slightly smaller and adjacent to the tiling ball, directs the light, which is then focused and magnified by an 80mm f100mm Plano-convex BK7 lens onto a 3 meter wide circle backlit gray PVC screen. There is also a conical light stray tube between the focus/magnification lens and the 3 meter backlit screen.
The quasi-random tiling ball is in a opaque chamber.
There are two windows with ND filters to look into the running system.
The focal point is slightly in front of the ball’s center, aligning with the lens equation with the screen. The cylindrical caustic beam shapers and quasi-random tiling ball are in constant rotation on two axes, driven by ultra-low RPM motors, enhancing the analyzing and meditative experience of the projection.
The viewer is exposed to the 80000-lumen light source from a distance of 4-meters, immersing them in an intricate interplay of light, shadow and depth.