A personal message is more and more often sent digitally. Intangible, floating in the air, only readable on a screen. The Cryptographer generates pattern by translating words to a code. Bleached into fabric the message becomes tangible. Invisible words, with a physical impact. Controlled by text messaging each character is transformed into a specified icon, resulting in ever changing patterns, depending on the users input.
This project was technically very complex, due to this we could have never done it without the help of dedicaded experts. We are very thankful for the inspiring and productive collabrations. The final software and interface is developed in collaboration with Remon van den Eijnden and Peter Bust. The elementary programming and direct control elements of the engines was done by Bart van der Linden. Studio Watt took care of the engineering and eletronica.
www.remonvdeijnden.nl
www.peterbust.nl
www.bartvdl.nl
www.studiowatt.nl
The bleach proces is applied by a pen attached to the print head of the Cryptographer. Reacting differently on each textile dye the bleached shades vary. Size and scale of the pattern is determined by the amount of words send to the printer. The project will be presented for the first time at Dutch Invertuals 'Retouched' during Salone del Mobile in Milano from 17-22nd of April.
Initiator and Curator
Wendy Plomp
Other participants
Daphna Laurens, Edhv, Mieke Meijer, Jetske Visser, Jeroen Wand, Maurizio Montalti, Kirstie van Noort, Susana Camara & Mike Thompson, Adrien Petrucci, Paul Heijnen
The process
The icons are sorted by letter frequency in english (etaoin shrdlc umwfgy pbvkj xqz). Starting with the most commonly used ones. Through this it was possible to estimate compositions and keep a balance between round, square, open, closed...shapes.