Victoria Crater, Mars (2015)
Scale/Scape Light Panel series #4
24" x 32" x 3"
Wenge hardwood, stained plywood, LED illumination, acrylic, metal hardware
Scale/Scape Natural Light series #4b
22" x 24" x 1/8"
Lasercut matte board
An investigation into the thresholds of human perception, this series presents images from three scales: planetary, microscopic, and telescopic. Each image is both abstract and representational, and the scale of each is ambiguous. Apparent undulations could be molecular surfaces, or folds of fabric, or mountain ranges.This indeterminacy refers to textures and patterns found in nature, which occur across vastly different sizes and materials.
The image is formed by thousands of tiny holes with different sizes in an homage to the history of halftone printing techniques. Here, rather than black ink on white paper, light shines through opaque wood. The images are translated with custom software into dot patterns and then laser-cut. The viewer’s own human visual system does the rest, interpreting the topography of holes as shadows, depth, and three dimensionality. Paradoxically it is only when blurred that they become recognizable.
This piece was also made in lasercut matte board designed for hanging in a window to take advantage of natural light. (See images at end.) The background can be seen through the image, creating a layered effect depending on the viewer's focal point.
The original image was taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.
Making of:
http://www.instructables.com/id/ScaleScape-Halftone-Light-Panel-series/?ALLSTEPS
