Systems & Methodology

Technology

Analog processes remain irreplaceable because they introduce organic variability that digital systems can only approximate. Digital tools are deployed for precision, synchronization, and integration—but sparingly, to avoid sterilizing what makes live visual performance unpredictable and alive. Pre-rendered content eliminates the element of real-time responsiveness that defines immersive visual experience. The system is designed to balance control with emergence.

The System
PILLAR 01

Art Medium

Liquid light, analog chemistry, optical projection

Liquid light projection uses dyes, oils, and chemical interactions on heated glass surfaces to create continuously evolving visual fields. The medium operates through thermodynamic and optical principles that produce non-repeating patterns shaped by temperature, viscosity, and light refraction.

Digital rendering cannot replicate the organic drift, edge diffusion, and temporal unpredictability inherent in analog liquid chemistry. Each moment is unrepeatable.

Core Components
  • Mineral oil and water-based dye suspensions
  • Overhead projection with controlled heat sources
  • Glass and acrylic projection surfaces
  • Manual manipulation tools for real-time control
  • Chemical interaction timing for color evolution
Learn the medium See it in action
PILLAR 02

Software

Resolume, TouchDesigner, custom shaders, MIDI routing

Software handles video routing, real-time compositing, projection mapping calibration, and audio-to-visual synchronization. It serves as the translation layer between analog capture and digital distribution, not as a generative source.

Used minimally to preserve the primacy of the analog medium. The goal is integration and control, not synthetic generation.

Software Stack
  • Resolume Arena for live compositing and routing
  • TouchDesigner for generative overlays and sensor input
  • Custom GLSL shaders for color correction and effects
  • MIDI routing for hardware synchronization
  • Capture card integration for analog-to-digital conversion
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PILLAR 03

Hardware / Compute

Machines, GPUs, capture systems, interfaces

Hardware is chosen for stability and low-latency performance in live environments. The system prioritizes reliable frame delivery over maximum resolution. Processing power is allocated to real-time compositing, not rendering complexity.

Stability matters more than power. Latency matters more than resolution. A system that never crashes is worth more than one that occasionally impresses.

Core Hardware
  • Dedicated GPU for real-time video processing
  • Professional capture cards for analog video input
  • Low-latency MIDI controllers for live manipulation
  • Redundant power distribution systems
  • Network video distribution infrastructure
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PILLAR 04

Optical & Stage Gear

Projectors, lenses, liquid tables, light sources

Physical projection systems determine how light interacts with space. Overhead projectors capture analog liquid motion. High-lumen projectors handle large venue scaling. Lenses control throw distance and focus for architectural adaptation.

Gear is chosen for modularity and field serviceability. Systems must integrate with existing stage infrastructure without custom fabrication.

Stage Equipment
  • Overhead projectors with heat-lamp modification
  • High-lumen venue projectors (5000+ lumens)
  • Interchangeable lens systems for variable throw distance
  • Liquid projection tables with thermal control
  • Rigging and mounting hardware for varied venues
See live setups Acquire gear
PILLAR 05

Synthesis / Essence

Where analog and digital converge

The system architecture merges analog unpredictability with digital precision. Liquid chemistry generates source material that software routes, composites, and distributes. Neither domain dominates—both serve the perceptual outcome. The artist operates as conductor, not controller, allowing the medium to express inherent properties while shaping its trajectory.

Full control would eliminate emergence. Full chaos would eliminate intent. The balance between these states defines the practice. The system is designed to preserve this tension.

Integration Principles
  • Analog unpredictability preserved through minimal digital intervention
  • Real-time responsiveness without pre-rendered content dependency
  • Emergent behavior encouraged within structural constraints
  • Artist as system operator, not content creator
  • Perception design over aesthetic production
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