Solhours ☀️ A Meditative Journey Through Generative Urban Landscapes
written by PaoloTonon
Let's delve into Solhours ☀️, a project I've crafted for the year 2023. This year has been marked by professional commitments at NTT DATA, introspection, experimentation with generative AI, and an in-depth analysis of the ever-shifting geopolitical landscape. However, as summer approached, I felt a compelling need to revisit generative art—a creative endeavor that serves as both a psychological refuge and a means of addressing life's daily challenges. Even though it consumes a significant portion of my time, it aids me in navigating the intricacies of everyday existence.
Origins and Inspirations
The genesis of Solhours ☀️ traces back to a period of contemplation, with the backdrop of the beach and the sea inspiring its conception. The project drew artistic influences from prior works, most notably "Accento" by Emanuele Pasin. This piece harnessed simple structures, shadows, and gradients to craft a visually arresting masterpiece. The artistic stylings of Andreas Gysin, albeit a mastery I don't aspire to replicate programmatically, underscored the desire to introduce typographical elements to generative art—a bridge between the digital realm and my enduring affinity for traditional graphic design.
Technical Resurgence
A return to the fundamentals of 3D web development in the Processing and P5.js frameworks brought Solhours☀️ into sharper focus. It entailed the methodical placement of cubes within a grid, choreographing their movements in a synchronized sequence. What immediately captured my imagination were the variegated gradients born from the interplay of light and shadows, envisioned in diverse chromatic variations. At this juncture, the idea to resurrect a substantial palette database, originally conceived for Time Atlas on Art Blocks in collaboration with my daughter, germinated (in an interview on Medium I tell this story). These threads collectively wove a fabric for a three-dimensional sequel to Time Atlas.
The Meditative Lens
Solhours ☀️ perpetuates the meditative perspective that characterized Time Atlas. It invites the observer to momentarily detach from physical surroundings and immerse themselves in a shared instant within the tapestry of humanity—a facet too often obscured by the complexities of daily existence.
Animated Cubes
In Solhours ☀️, the cubes progressively populate with the names of cities and their respective local times. The standout feature, significantly enhanced from "Time Atlas," is the accurate replication of sunlight conditions, mirroring the real-time solar disposition in the featured city (whereas nocturnal illumination is subdued and diffused). Zooming out with the mouse unveils a colored sphere that signifies the sun's position at that moment, casting its luminous rays upon the cubes.
Gratitude is extended to Vladimir Agafonkin for his intricate script for sun position detection at specified geographic coordinates. As an expression of appreciation, 25% of the primary sales and 10% of the secondary sales of Solhours ☀️ are dedicated to supporting Ukraine during these challenging times. Recognition is also extended to Paulund for the essential script handling daylight saving time complexities.
At the end of the day
In conclusion, I extend my appreciation to Cypher and the remarkable fxhash community for providing a platform to showcase the ideas and projects of digital artists. The introduction of the params function acted as a source of inspiration, motivating my return to the keyboard in the complex year of 2023. This digital message in a bottle is cast into the vast sea of cyberspace, accompanied by 325 Solhours ☀️ tickets, awaiting the return of creative tides.