Broadening Perspective
Thesis in MFA Computer Arts at the School of Visual Arts, NYC by Raoul Bubber.
A Multi-Media Installation with two parts, both addressing the two definitions of 'Perspective' respectively.
Softwares Used:
SideFX Houdini
Derivative TouchDesigner
Procreate
Virtual Desktop
Part 1: Visual Perspective
Perspective has two definitions. This part of the installation refers to the first:
"The art of drawing solid objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other when viewed from a particular point." - Oxford Dictionary
Perspective can be a complicated subject to understand, since there are multiple rules. So far, the main established rules involve 1-Point, 2-Point, 3-Point, and 5-Point Perspective. This is a new rule of perspective coined in this thesis, called 7-Point Perspective. This rule allows artists to precisely understand how the foundational rules are all tied together in the context how we see the world around us, through an Augmented Reality Experience.
Part 2: Reflection
This part of the installation refers to the second definition of perspective:
"A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view" - Oxford Dictionary
Everyone has their own unique point of view. Similarly, everyone has their own tastes in music, that makes them feel a specific way that is individual to them. As a result, not everybody can relate to what makes a song special to another. However, through seeing their favorite music reflect in a common visual indiscriminately, everyone can enjoy the feelings that their music creates together.
Through an Audio-Reactive experience, which allows the audience to either play their favorite music through a streaming service, or allows them to play the instruments of their choice, they are able to see the feelings of music reflect in the visuals around them.
Behind the Scenes:
For Part 1, I started with constructing the 7-Point structure in SideFX Houdini. After doing so, I imported it into Derivative TouchDesigner and patched it to be viewable in Virtual Reality.
Finally, through using Virtual Desktop on the Meta Quest 3, I was able to use its AR feature to bring it into Augmented Reality and overlay the 7-Point Perspective structure with reality. This in turn has proved that 7-Point Perspective works and shows how we perceive depth in our surroundings.
For Part 2 of the thesis, almost all parts were done in Derivative TouchDesigner. Through analyzing changes in the audio, and setting triggers based on combinations of the levels of Bass, Midtones, Treble and overall Volume, I was able to create unique effects based off the different moods in the music. In this case it only uses the example of using one audio device. However, I am now able to add as many instruments and audio sources as the hardware is capable of handling, and have them all affect the visuals simultaneously.
In this case, I only used my own abstract illustrations as the visuals that would be manipulated, since they are highly interpretable, however I am able to replace the visuals with anything of my choice, and have it be unique to each performance.