The Scientific Artist
Welcome to The Scientific Artist, where we merge the fascinating worlds of science and art to produce stunning and mind-bending creations that captivate and motivate people all around the globe. As a self-employed artist and researcher, I'm driven by my passion for exploring the intersection of technology, creativity, and innovation. I would be thrilled to have you join me on this exciting journey of discovery, as we uncover the endless possibilities that arise when science meets art.

Science to Experience

Project Title: The Uncanny Valley of Broken Patterns

This interactive art-science hybrid project explores the psychological tension between human perception and incomplete patterns. It was made as part of the Science to Experience course which allows you to explore everything you have learned during the semester. Inspired by Masahiro Mori’s Uncanny Valley theory, we theorized that nearly complete—but subtly disrupted—patterns evoke maximum discomfort, akin to the unease caused by almost-human robots. Through a participatory experience, users engage with this phenomenon by drawing patterns, confronting intentional disruptions, and witnessing their “broken” work transform into collective beauty.

Setup Concept
Concept & Scientific Foundation

  • Core Insight: Broken patterns that are almost complete trigger a visceral emotional response, following an inverse U-shaped discomfort curve.

  • Research: Investigated auditory, visual, and societal patterns, including trypophobia, symmetry obsessions, and the Barnum Effect. Bridged psychology (non-clinical OCD tendencies) with design theory.

  • Experience Design: Users draw patterns on an iPad interface, only to have their work disrupted (e.g., cursor lag, axis inversion) moments before completion. The finale reveals their fractured pattern as part of a symmetrical mandala and a larger collaborative artwork, symbolizing resolution through collective imperfection.

Technical Implementation

  • Interactive Tool: Built with p5.js, the app includes states for drawing, disruption, and revelation. Key features:

    • Real-time pattern distortion (e.g., pen-to-eraser swaps, coordinate flipping).

    • Mirroring algorithms to transform broken patterns into mandalas.

    • Grid system aggregating all participants’ patterns into a shared digital canvas.

  • GitHub Repository: Code & Live Demo

  • Physical Setup: iPad + stylus, partitioned exhibition space, and a screen displaying real-time interactions. Pre-event priming via pattern-covered panels enhanced user engagement.

User Journey & Outcomes

  • Emotional Arc: Frustration → Reflection → Relief. Users lingered in the “valley” of discomfort before witnessing their work’s reintegration into harmony.

  • Tangible Output: Participants received a printout of their pattern, while the collective artwork showcased the beauty of aggregated imperfections.

  • Impact: Demonstrated how digital interactivity can evoke and resolve psychological tension, offering insights for HCI design, therapeutic art, and pattern-based aesthetics.

Exhibition & Reflection

Presented as a solo-engagement art installation, the project blended code, psychology, and participatory design. Challenges included balancing intentional disruption with user agency and ensuring seamless mirroring algorithms. The work underscores the universality of pattern-seeking behavior and the transformative potential of embracing imperfection.

Key Skills Demonstrated: Cross-disciplinary collaboration, creative coding (p5.js), user-centered design, scientific research synthesis, physical-digital integration.

Tools: p5.js, Figma, GitHub, Physical Installation Design
Team: DaVinChii (Daphne, Vinnayakk, Chiini) | Coach: Rob Saunders