Alp Tuğan works on creative coding, generative art, and sonic arts, and has participated in various exhibitions and events with his generative audiovisual projects. He is also a co-founding member of the live coding duo called RAW (www.rawlivecoding.com). Tuğan aims to create the hybrid forms of visual and auditory experience interactively in his works. Hardware hacking, sound synthesis, material collection, computational environments become the biggest source of inspiration for his works. In this sense, a mathematical model of a natural phenomenon that can only be observed with a microscope, or an output of an autonomous system might form the basis of his artworks.
Tuğan recently chatted with us about the inspiration behind his Incognita series. Check out the conversation below.
Tell us a little about the work you’re presenting with Ghosting?
By definition the Latin word “Incognita” means “unknown or unexplored” on some resources. “Incognita” started as research on mathematical models that are representing the natural entities. While working on the project, I came across with the equation called “Supershape/Superformula“ by Johan Gielis and implemented the formula with custom modifications in order to make it work on cartesian coordinate system. In a nutshell, “Incognita” is an infinite collection of 3D forms that may exist or not in nature and it creates these 3D forms according to the limits that I defined in the custom application.
How does translating your work into AR form speak to your practice?
For the first time, I create my NFTs in AR form. Creating 3D mesh surfaces with coding requires more attention while working with tons of vertices. Vertex points have to be grouped to make proper triangulations. If one of the vertices left alone in space, the exported 3D file becomes corrupted even it looks fine on computer screen. The most challenging part for me was exporting code-based graphics as 3D models. Transforming my work into AR form broadens the “Incognita” series conceptually. By its nature, dematerialized state of crypto art productions becomes free from their medium in terms of technological hardware requirements. When an artwork released as NFT it does not need any specific system in order to be experienced. Any technological device that has a web browser substitutes the necessary hardware to display the artwork. In that sense, “Incognita” series make it possible for me to create physical form of the artworks using a 3D printer apart from their AR and still image versions. Actually “Incognita” is the representation of procedural instructions generated by an autonomous system that I have coded. Translating the output as an AR formed object transforms the artworks’ existential state into a new dimension for me. One can say that fixed-location based AR works are considered to be virtual site-specific installations. In that sense, “Incognita” series become non-site specific installations that the spectator has right to make his/her decision where to view the artwork.
How does blockchain technology support you as an artist?
While Blockchain technology has caused a huge impact in socio-economic terms, it also leads to the emergence of new mediums and crypto art movement. NFT Marketplaces using that technology allow artists to push the boundaries of art production and conventions beyond. As programmer-artist, it allows me to release, exhibit, and sell my generative compositions without a represented by a traditional art gallery. In a sense, blockchain technology decentralize the existing art market and its practices by giving rights to the artist and independent communities.
Illust Space’s platform helps me to handle the most exhausting part for me which is exhibiting and promoting the NFT. Besides, they provide a rare technology (a domain) that allows artists to exhibit their AR formed NFTs.
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