Infinitesimal is an experimental animation that explores what lies within the gaps of scientific imaging by imagining what movement might mean at the nanoscale and how it would be perceived if visible to our eyes. A DNA origami is so minuscule that even with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), researchers can only capture a snapshot of its final stage through a process called characterization. When introduced to the AFM microscope at Fraunhofer ENAS, the artist was intrigued to discover that each image it produces takes approximately 20 minutes, capturing only the final stage of Origami Folding. This leaves a significant gap in our understanding of the intermediate stages, including how origamis would move and what forms they would take.
The work departed from three images characterized during the laboratory time of Funken Academy. Abstract generative animations were crafted on top of them, transporting the viewer to the imaginary realm of such scales.
Photo: Ioulia Marouda
Photo: Ioulia Marouda
Bio
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Photo: Nick TsafosIoulia Marouda
GR
Ioulia Marouda is a multidisciplinary designer and artistic researcher. Her interests lie in encounters across diverse fields, exploring unexpected connections between science, artistic practices and human tradition. Currently, she is a doctoral fellow in Art Science at Ghent University. Using data, computer graphics and scientific concepts, her work aims to reveal the imperceptible forces that shape our lives, forging a connection with the more-than-human world.
Credits
This project was developed in the framework of Funken Academy 2023, organised by Klub Solitaer e.V. in association with Frauenhofer ENAS. With thanks to Carolin Liebl and Nikolas Schmid-Pfähler for the artistic mentorship, as well as to Mathis Janßen, Julia Hann and the whole Frauenhofer ENAS team for the scientific support.
This project has been developed and is presented in the context of the FUNKEN Academy project. FUNKEN Academy is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
