THE MAKING
As a creator drawn to figurative art with rich meaning and emotional resonance, I find joy in translating these qualities into the digital realm. The inception of Ecstasis was sparked by Bernini's awe-inspiring sculpture, 'The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa' (1652), featuring the saint in divine union.
I turned to 3D software to create the foundational form and began exploring ‘divine union’ visually expressed as reaction-diffusion patterns. With their fluid, organic movements, these patterns became a natural fit, exhibiting a distinctly psychedelic quality without conjuring the scent of patchouli. In 2021, I successfully integrated reaction-diffusion into 3D software as an animating texture on a moving figure’s face. That composition would later be known as 'Ecsta5is,' the inaugural piece in the series.
When I revisited the work in 2022, I pushed the boundaries of animation using video editing software, experimenting with displacement maps, colour, and glitch techniques like datamoshing. Similar to my love for reaction-diffusion, I also developed a strong affinity for glitches.
Glitches interrupt our expectations of digital media; like a potent psychedelic, they draw back the curtain, revealing a glimpse into something beyond. Surpassing mere replication, glitches expose the pixel's materiality in unique and surprising ways, disturbing the anticipated smoothness associated with CG imagery. These disruptions reflect the complexity of our own journeys and enhance the series' exploration of non-normative states.
The synergy of visual and auditory elements within the Ecstasis series creates an immersive encounter where the artwork's visual drama intertwines seamlessly with the musical accompaniments. Collaborating with accomplished musicians—Michael Peter Olsen, Stephen Ramsay, and Andrew MacDonald—we wanted to infuse the collection with a visceral quality. Through these soundscapes, viewers engage in a wordless exploration of the emotional nuances accompanying change, transformation, and revelation. The evolving nature of each piece reflects the adaptive, creative, and generative essence of the human mind, capturing the diverse and fluid tapestry of our experiences.
Developed over two transformative years, from 2021 to 2023, the Ecstasis collection holds significant meaning for the artists involved. While each piece is a unique expression, collectively, they strive to articulate the intensity of peak experiences and their fleeting, ephemeral nature. We believe that when approached earnestly and consciously integrated, these sensations—awe—possess the transformative power to reshape our relationship with life in positive ways.
In parting, I’d like to share a quote from JF Martel’s book ‘Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice.’
'True beauty is not pretty. It is a tear in the facade of the everyday, a sudden revelation of the forces seething beneath the surface of things.'
This sentiment resonates with the ethos of Ecstasis, where the convergence of elements serves as a portal to unveil the nuanced and sometimes challenging nature of our superhuman happenings. Ecstasis transcends the conventional, inviting you to explore depths beyond the veneer of material reality.