Seaquins
Seaquins is an interactive audio-visual installation that creates a responsive abstract environment inspired by natural phenomena. The work features a mesmerizing fluid simulation where white coin-like elements resemble scales or sequins, collectively forming organic patterns that shift and flow in response to audience movement. As viewers move through the space, their motions are captured and translated into force fields that influence the underlying smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulation, creating a dynamic dialogue between human presence and digital response. The installation transforms the exhibition space into an immersive environment where familiar biomimetic patterns emerge from abstract elements, inviting contemplation on the relationship between natural systems and computational aesthetics.
Concept
This work explores the intersection between biological mimicry and computational fluid dynamics through real-time interaction. By creating a system where human movement directly influences particle behavior, Seaquins reveals hidden connections between our physical presence and abstract visual representations. The coin-like units, despite being purely white, create rich color experiences through their reflective properties and blending behaviors—evoking the iridescent quality of hummingbird feathers or the shimmering surface of water.
The installation examines how predictable systems can create soothing, meditative experiences in an increasingly unpredictable world. The meandering motion of the particles follows comprehensible physical laws while still producing endless variety, creating a space where viewers can find both familiarity and surprise. This tension between order and chaos reflects broader patterns in natural systems, where complex behaviors emerge from simple rules.
The biomimetic approach ensures that the visuals feel simultaneously familiar and novel—recognizable enough to trigger associations with natural phenomena yet abstract enough to remain open to interpretation. This quality allows viewers to project their own experiences onto the work, finding personal meaning in the fluid patterns and emergent behaviors.
Technical Details
At the core of Seaquins is a custom software system developed in Unity that implements a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulation with carefully calibrated turbulence parameters. This physics-based approach allows for authentic fluid behavior while maintaining precise control over the aesthetic qualities of the movement.
The system employs motion tracking to capture audience movement and transforms this data into force vectors that influence the particle simulation. This creates a responsive environment where human presence becomes an integral part of the work—not merely triggering predefined responses but actively shaping the underlying fluid dynamics.
The visual elements themselves are designed to maximize the expressive potential of light and reflection. Though the individual units are white, they create complex color experiences through their reflective properties and the way they interact with light sources in the virtual environment. This approach allows for a minimalist underlying structure that can still produce rich visual complexity.
The software maintains a delicate balance between responsive interaction and aesthetic cohesion. While audience movement significantly influences the flow patterns, the system preserves certain visual qualities that maintain the work's artistic integrity regardless of interaction intensity. This ensures that the installation remains compelling both during moments of active engagement and quieter contemplation.
Experience
Viewers encountering Seaquins often describe a sense of recognition—seeing something that feels simultaneously familiar and novel. The flowing patterns trigger associations with natural phenomena—rippling water, flocking birds, or cellular movement—while maintaining an abstract quality that resists specific identification.
The interaction creates a meditative experience, as viewers discover how their movements influence the fluid environment. This responsive quality encourages experimentation and play, inviting people to explore different ways of engaging with the installation. Some move quickly to create dramatic disruptions in the flow, while others make subtle gestures to guide the particles more gently.
In a world of increasing complexity and unpredictability, Seaquins offers a space where cause and effect remain clear and comprehensible. The soothing quality of the installation stems from this predictability—not in the sense of knowing exactly what patterns will emerge, but in understanding the underlying principles that govern them. This creates a contemplative environment where viewers can reflect on the relationship between natural systems, computational aesthetics, and human intervention.
Credits
Concept and Implementation: Osman Koç
Software Development: Custom Unity application with SPH fluid simulation
Interaction Design: Motion tracking system translating human movement into force fields
Seaquins represents the intersection of computational fluid dynamics and biomimetic design, demonstrating how abstract systems can evoke natural patterns and create meaningful interactive experiences that bridge the digital and physical realms.