IXI

2020

Time-Dependent Sculpture, Mixed Reality, Event Space

About
“ixi” are morphing sculptures, which are also walkable virtual spaces. The sculptures are built by translating two hyperspaces into one 3-dimensional virtual object. The hyper-spaces are part of current (2020) research into the “theory of everything”, physicists‘ search for a unified theory that describes why and how the universe and everything within it works. Each hyperspace represents one possible mathematical outlay of our universe. Two of the hyperspaces found in this research form one “ixi”. The two hyperspaces are animated to morph extremely slowly from one to the other over the course of 12 hours. Over the following 12 hours, the morphing reverses. As a result, “ixi” can be re-visited at different times of the day and will show different shapes each time. There is subtle music played in the space, which is based on the first officially released music (“bayes” by Byrke Lou) using a new algorithm for AI sound synthesis developed by Google in 2020. Differences in colors result from the different playback devices the experience was used on at different events. The color scheme, contrast, and transparency can be controlled for each use, but there are limits on some devices as to how much coloring can be fine-tuned.

Experience
The transparent space is rendered visible only through the light reflected on its surface. “ixi’s” slowly morphing shape, incrementally changing light situation, and AI-generated soundscape can be experienced in virtual reality. The visitor’s body can take the form of a customized avatar, and visitors can talk to and engage with fellow visitors. The algorithmic composition and AI-synthesised sounds build a dreamy, abstract soundscape that guides the visitor through the space. Through portals, other spaces can potentially be accessed.

Why
“ixi’s” hyper-spaces stem from current research into the theory of everything, which would explain the fundamental rules our universe operates on. “ixi” reflects on the question of how we conceptualize and construct virtual and physical space. Because the way we think about space will define the way we build it. And the way we build space will define the way we will be able to fill and use it.