To bridge the gap between concept and physical gallery execution, I have outlined a structured research and testing roadmap divided into five key technical and spatial workstreams, these are the actions I need to take/explore/test in the coming weeks:
1. High-Contrast Visual Isolation & Background Extraction
- Father’s Archive (The Present): Experiment with image processing techniques (levels, luminance thresholds, and tonal inversions) across various photographs from my father’s recent portfolio. The goal is to isolate his organic camera-movement lines against an absolute digital pure black background.
- Childhood Memory Visuals (The Past): Develop high-contrast visual assets depicting scenes from my early memories—butterflies fluttering through grass fields and seagulls skimming the ocean surface. These must also be isolated onto true black backgrounds so that, when projected, the background vanishes and only luminous, weightless forms strike the fabric planes.
2. Motion Synthesis & Kinetic Translation
- Learn digital motion graphics techniques (using tools like Adobe After Effects) to animate the isolated high-contrast assets.
- Ensure the movement of the visual elements flows naturally along the organic axes of my father’s original camera gestures.
- Develop fluid, seamless looping motion clips for both the childhood memories and his contemporary work, creating a continuous rhythm of past and present without abrupt visual cuts.
3. Spatial Projection Mapping via MadMapper
- Learn and master MadMapper software to control and calibrate projection outputs across complex 3D environments.
- Practice mapping multiple distinct video streams onto separate geometric surfaces and layered spatial planes simultaneously.
- Experiment with edge blending, masking, and surface warping to ensure the motion clips land precisely onto individual fabric panes without light spilling into unwanted areas.
4. Prototyping a Scale Darkroom Chamber with Ambient Safelight
- Build a mini darkroom enclosure in the studio to test lighting physics in a controlled environment.
- Experiment with ambient red and amber safelight filters to recreate the atmosphere of my childhood bedroom darkroom.
- Calibrate ambient light levels to find the exact threshold where the darkroom atmosphere feels authentic without washing out or overpowering the delicate video projections. Lighting dimming arrangement may need to be applied transforming lighting color.
5. Physical Fabric & Human Medium Spatial Tests
- Source and test various translucent textiles (such as sheer silk, organza, scrim, and mesh) to analyze light transmission, opacity, and layering behavior.
- Hang multi-layered fabric panes inside the darkened prototype chamber and project the synchronized video loops across them.
- Conduct live spatial tests with a person walking through the pathways between the hanging fabrics—observing how human movement intercepts, interrupts, and connects the projected light streams from age 9 to age 54.
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