MoCap W1 24: 'Visualising Motion' Contextual Research

This week we jumped back into Motion Capture with a new assessment. The task is to visualise body movement (during some form of performance) in an experimental and abstract way.

With such an open brief, it is an opportunity for the imagination to run wild. I have decided to design my project around the aesthetic of an egg white. This idea came to me through my desire to develop my technical abilities within Maya and learn more about fluid simulation, and also as a tribute to my personal health as I used to be deathly allergic and therefore afraid of eggs which is quite funny but recently I have been experimenting with egg affiliated foods and breaking free of this fear. I find that I have an interest in smooth and fluid textures in art and modelling which I would like to incorporate into my project.

Here is some of my research into the visualisation of motion, techniques and the styles I would like to employ in my project.

Interactive Daydreams by Vincent Houze

Houze, V. (2018). Interactive Daydreams (June 2017). Vimeo. Available at: https://vimeo.com/265944009 [Accessed 1 Mar. 2024].

This video was developed as an experiment on particle movement. In the video, particles are shown swirling around in a box as if they collectively form a liquid. The movement that drives the particles seems to originate from a human as the particles swarm into a body shape at the beginning and end of a movement. I really like the way that the particles flow so smoothly together, yet when there is a kinetic burst they spread far apart in tidal waves - like a school of fish. With these bursts of forceful movement, the particles travel with speed and then begin to swirl inward as they slow down. The turquoise and blue colours from this still image from the video add to the liquid appearance. Finally, once they move far enough from the body shape, the particles slowly vanish which I think is a nice touch. Overall the experiment gives off a strong sense of calm, soothing serenity.

For my project, I want to try to emulate the effect of the particles or fluid being driven from the body's movements in this video - either within a body as a volume or maybe emitting from the body mesh. I also would like to have particles/fluid flying off the dancer in the direction of their movements and then have them melting away over time to keep the scene appearance clean.

Virtual Actors in Chinese Opera by Tobias Gremmler

Gremmler, T. (2018, February 4). Virtual Actors in Chinese Opera. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbbJVAts-D8 [Accessed 1 Mar. 2024].

This video is an exploration into a fusion of costume and body motions. There are many examples of Chinese theatre textures used in the piece, however the one that stuck out to me was this shiny and slimy one. I liked that the matter splays out (caused by the dance motions) and then falls to the ground and disappears. The consistency of the matter is almost gooey and gloopy. I'd like to find out how to create this effect.

Another interesting part of the piece is the audio. The audio features oriental drums and instruments, fitting to the influence of Chinese theatre. The dancer seems to have been influenced by the music as sharp clangs in the music align with the sharp direction changes in the choreography of the dances.

There are also lots of level changes throughout the piece which adds some visual interest since the matter rises and falls with the arms of the dancer. It almost looks like a dragon if you really use your imagination.

Things I would like to take from this piece is the gooey consistency of the simulated material and the knowledge of how important the dance's movements are to the mood of my own project.

'Mocap Particle Dance' by Marius Schmucker

Schmucker, M. (2019, January 10). Houdini | MoCap Particle Dance. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x806ZGsYOu0 [Accessed 4 Mar. 2024]

Much like the 'Interactive Daydreams' Experiment, this piece has many particles that form the human body. With the surges of motion in the dance, the particles splay out as if pushed with force by the person. As they spread, they slowly vanish into the black. It is almost as if they are water droplets, being splashed around by kinetic energy. However, the particles are more condensed together than in the aforementioned video and the whole body of the dancer is indicated by the particles rather than only their the gestures. The particles also hold in the space for longer so that the previous movement is frozen in time while the dancer continues moving. It blends the dance moves together. I like the way that the particles emit from the body and vanish like in 'Interactive Daydreams', but also how the particles hold their pose for longer as if they carry the memory of the movements.

'Run Forever' by Universal Everything

Everything, U. (2021). Run Forever in Vimeo Staff Picks. Vimeo. Available at: https://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/533883864 [Accessed 1 Mar. 2024].

This video was made as a promotional advertisement for the car brand Hyundai, and its purpose is to promote the company's sustainability policies. Although there were many different textures used in this video, I am particularly drawn to this example of a man made of water at 0:11-0.30s. As the video goes on, the waterman dissolves from a gelatinous figure to a stream of loose water. I really like the way that he breaks apart progressively. I admire the reflections on the back wall that change patterns with the state of matter of the man, and the hues within the lighting. The lighting colour changes pair with the temperature change of the water as it goes from a solid to a liquid and the cool white with blues and purples fades into a warm beige white. I would like to incorporate the melting liquid effect somewhere in my project, maybe at the end as an interesting finale. I think it would also be smart to change the lighting when the shell bursts apart and reveals the character's liquid form.

'Touch Reactive Ripple Installation' by Karyn Nakamura (KN)

Nakamura, K. (2021, July 13). Touch Reactive Ripple Installation. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU1mx2s6qTA [Accessed 4 Mar. 2024]

This installation is an example of motion initiating a reaction. Nakamura uses her hands to influence the projection of blue organic splotch shapes appearing on a white screen. The ripples start small at the point of 'contact' and expand out into a pool of deep blue before vanishing when she moves her hand away (a recurring theme in my research). Her hands create a trail of ripples. I have chosen this piece because I think it represents motion speed and pressure well. The dark areas signify more pressure and concentration of the fluid as the hand moves slower or is stagnant. Then when the hand moves quickly, the fluid is a lot lighter and thinner. It might be cool to use this effect on the ground as the dancer moves around the space in their fluid form.

'Pearls' by RULEBYART

RULEBYART (2023). Pearls. Instagram. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/rulebyart/reel/Co3Chw6D56l/ [Accessed 1 Mar. 2024].

I am very drawn to the mesmerizing appearance of this moving image because it's created from an unknown, very fluid, almost liquid material. There are also big orbs (pearls) that float along with the 'river of glass' which appear to be attached or maybe stuck to it. I love the contortion of the transparent matter - it moves like a stream but crinkles and creases to indicate it is still a solid material. The way the artist has used bright white lighting as well as hues of pink to enhance the reflective, glossy material makes the piece look luxurious. The pearls are also very visually stimulating as they bob around within the thin fluid matter. They remind me of particles or clusters of eggs.

I will consider having particle orbs flowing like a wave inside a transparent volume of the dancer as a backup plan if the fluid simulation proves too difficult.

The Glass Man by Andrea Marcias (Waarp)

Marcias, A. (2021). The Glass Man. [Digital Modelling] Available at: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3dL9bE [Accessed 1 Mar. 2024].

I have this piece in my research because it expresses the volume of fluid that I want to emulate on my dancer. The human body is made of up to 60% water. Mostly I chose this image because of the material. The transparent layer used to coat the human can cast interesting reflective patterns along the walls and floor of the scene just like in the 'Run Forever' video. It also reminds me of the translucent membrane of an egg. Within the transparent volume it would be cool to have some fluid simulation floating around in an orb similar to an egg yolk. Then the flecks surrounding the hand could be made with nParticles that would look like droplets when given the same material as the dancer.

'Broken' by George Triggs

Triggs, G. (2011). Broken (Croatia) [Sculpture Broken]. Museum of Broken Relationships . https://www.georgetriggs.co.uk/project_broken.php

This sculpture was created for the Museum of Broken Relationships in Croatia. It is a very moving piece that presents the fragility of human emotion. I like the ceramic or plaster texture that the artist has used to create the sculpture and the way that the artist has decided to leave the cutout pieces scatted along the floor. By themselves, the broken shards remind me of egg shells which closely aligns with the theme of my project.

I also appreciate how emotive this sculpture is. I would like to convey a similar message in my project of human fragility or the expression of emotion.

The brief states that we should show some kind of a progression, so it might be cool to start with my dancer covered in a similar material to the sculpture (like a shell) which then bursts apart to reveal the fluid matter inspired by the egg beneath.

"Violetta Elvin' by Zoltán Glass

Glass, Z. (1958). Violetta Elvin [Photograph Violetta Elvin]. https://www.facebook.com/escarnio666/photos/a.264481064256399/273910466646792/?type=3 [Accessed 4 Mar. 2024]

This is an image of a ballerina called Violeta Elvin. The photographer, Zoltan Glass, has used clever photography techniques to comprise her individual movements in the ballet jump into one photograph. I was inspired by this image because of its beauty and elegance. The combined shape of the images created by the ballet move is similar to a fan. It also reminds me of a tidal wave as the legs and arms spread wide and then circle back in again as she lands. They create a trail of motion, similar to the way that the poses are held in the 'Motion Particle Dance' by Marius Shmucker. I appreciate the symmetry of the piece as well as the forceful move of the pose.

Finally, here are some figurines and artworks that kind of show the initial idea of the effect I'm trying to achieve with the egg yolk in the centre of the white held within the volume of the dancer's body:

Yoshii, H. (2019). TDW_2901-3000 [Digital Image]. https://yoshii-blog.blogspot.com/2019/08/tdw2994.html?m=1