Spitzenkörper is a generative 3D art piece envisioned by media artist Michiel Koelink, a member of the Art & Organisation collective, commissioned by DSM and programmed by me . It explores the capabilities of the new technologies in stereoscopic displays researched by Philips, namely the "Philips WoWvx 3D Screen".

The piece is inspired on the "Universal law of Mycelial Growth" proposed by the scientist Hans de Hollander from DSM. It is an artistic and aesthetic simulation of the microscopic processes inherent to the growth of fungi.

The project came to me through V2_ Institute for the Unstable Media where I currently work.  But after the fist version was complete I took the project to develop it further as a freelancer working directly with Michiel Koelink. The project is currently on version 2.0

Aesthetics

The program shows a simulation of the growth of a fungus calculated in real time based on a set of fungus configurations created by the artist that breed with each other giving birth to new child configurations thus creating an infinite ever-changing 3D image.

The final result is displayed on a 3D stereoscopic display that can be seen without any 3D goggles or any other special head gear. The screen has a very ingenious way to render a series of slightly different images and sending them to you in a way that your left eye sees a different image than your right fooling your brain into believing that it is seeing a 3D object coming out of the screen. More info at Philips if you are interested.

Technical aspects

The application was programmed in C++/OpenGL with the addition of the Philips WoWvx API for the communication with the screen

It features:

- Works with Philips WoW VX screens for stereoscopical 3D.
- XML configuration file allows for adding or changing configuration without stopping the program.
- Support for multiple or single fungus at once.
- Support for color breeding and/or textures.
- Support for background images
- Possibility for Animated textures
- Control over roughness and noize on the fungus model