EXPONENTIAL VIEW

An artwork with 59.049 Possible Appearances! Paintings and alternating led light. Geert Mul 2013. Comissioned artwork, gemeente Voorburg.

EXPONENTIAL VIEW: An Artwork with 59.049 Possible Appearances
By Geert Mul

At first glance, this tunnel might appear as just a sequence of illuminated scenes. Yet, beneath its surface lies a profound exploration of how we perceive and process information—an homage to the groundbreaking discoveries that shaped our understanding of the world.

The site of EXPONENTIAL VIEW is steeped in history, once part of the 17th-century garden of Hofwijck, the home of Constantijn Huygens and his son, Christiaan Huygens. Christiaan (1629–1695), the Netherlands’ most celebrated scientist, transformed the natural sciences through his revolutionary work in astronomy and microscopy. His inventions, like the telescope and microscope, allowed humanity to see beyond the naked eye, forever altering our understanding of scale and perspective.

A Parallel Between Centuries

This artwork draws a striking connection between the 17th century’s scientific awakening and the 21st century’s data-driven information culture. The telescope and microscope enabled exponential growth in information, while today’s internet revolution similarly overwhelms us with endless streams of data. Both eras challenge us to rethink how we see and experience the world.

As Christiaan Huygens expanded humanity’s view of the cosmos and the microscopic, EXPONENTIAL VIEW invites viewers to reflect on the ways we navigate today’s exponential flood of information.

The Artwork as an Analogue Database

EXPONENTIAL VIEW functions as an analogue database within the tunnel. It features 10 distinct scenes, each composed of 3 or 4 figures, with every figure painted in a primary or secondary color. Through the interplay of subtractive color mixing and LED lighting, the figures appear or vanish as the light changes.

Each scene, therefore, has 3 possible appearances, and with 10 scenes in total, the combinations multiply exponentially. The result? 59,049 unique configurations—a visual metaphor for the boundless permutations of information in the digital age.

An Experience of Infinite Possibility

Walking through the tunnel, you experience shifting patterns of color and form, a cascade of visual possibilities that parallels the ever-changing ways we interpret and process data. The work bridges the natural sciences of the past with the digital landscapes of today, connecting Christiaan Huygens’ legacy with contemporary culture.

Geert Mul 2013
Commissioned by Gemeente Voorburg / Leidschendam
Production Geert Mul / Frans van Viegen

Credits:  

Geert Mul

© Copyright 2014