शोध
Shodh
The installation is set against the backdrop of a pressing issue in India - every year, thousands of families are affected by the disappearance of there loved ones.
Concept Note
The bonds we share with family and friends are incredibly important to our sense of well-being and happiness. It's a reminder of the impact our relationships have on our lives and the value we place on them.
What happens when someone we love goes missing? How do we cope with the uncertainty, the fear, the grief? How do we keep their memory alive, and hope for their return? This thought of fear of losing loved ones has always scared me.
The installation is set against the backdrop of a pressing issue in India - every year, thousands of families are affected by the disappearance of people.
It invites you into a space where each torchlight becomes a symbol of the relentless search for those who have gone missing. The light from your torch reveals images hidden in the darkness, each illumination a sign of an unending search and to keep looking.
THE PROCESS
The Light Beam
One day, I saw a beam of light coming through the window into the living room. It was only visible because of the dust particles floating in the air. That small moment really fascinated me. I kept looking at it and thought—it would be cool to make something interactive with it.
Light , Shadow , Form
Light, shadow, and form always catch my eye. When light hits an object, it creates shapes that shift and move. Even simple forms cast interesting shadows. Sometimes, the shadow says more than the object itself. It’s a quiet play between light and shape.
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What If
What if the light is replaced by a different medium , material ?
What if the void spaces are filled with water and light is allowed to pass through it ?
What if the light is allowed to pass through the medium , material ?
Caustics
Caustics are visually striking patterns of concentrated light caused by the reflection or refraction of light off curved surfaces.
Caustics & Experimentation
Experimenting with bottle filled with water in a cylindrical surface, how light reacts when pass through a cylindrical surface.
Trying to do a mini-prototype, when light is passed and the water is stroked to create the patterns of caustics.
By quickly making a rough prototype to see how would it look like to create the caustics effect through the sunlight.
The Eureka Blog
I came across a blog which says Images hidden in plain sight. Th really interesting to see how the effect of caustic is formed, But it got more interesting when you can control the caustic to form images.
Pic and Blog Link - https://mattferraro.dev/
Triangulation
Triangulation connects concept, idea, and representation—each supporting and refining the other. A concept gives direction, the idea adds clarity, and representation brings it to life. Together, they form a complete thought, grounded yet open to interpretation and expression.
The intention explores different forms of disappearance—of species, people, internet, and empathy. The core concept is "disappearance" itself. Through caustic lenses, this idea is represented visually, turning absence into presence, and using light to reveal what is fading or lost.
Making of Lenses
An image is first processed through code that converts it into a CAD model.
Which is then used for CNC machining.
We wet sand the surface using 200, 400, 600, 1000, and 1500 grit sandpapers, followed by polishing with a soft rag and automotive polish.
The model is carved into an acrylic sheet using a roughing toolpath (left to right) and a finishing toolpath (top to bottom), set up in Fusion360 or similar CAM software.