“Variations on Pi” is a limited edition of 50 unique light paintings created by Nils Völker. Each one of these paintings is based on a different range of consecutive decimal places of the number pi (3,14159… the mathematical constant which is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter). Whilst a Machine, equipped with 16 LEDs, moves around a time exposure photo is taken from above. The digits define if and where a circle is drawn but also the colours and angles. All together 3861 decimal places were used to create the whole edition.
The holonomic platform is driven by an Arduino which also controls the lights. There are three stepper motors which drive the platform on so-called omni-wheels to certain points in a x/y-coordinate system defined by some of the decimal digits. The whole thing is battery-driven and on the top there are 16 rgb-Leds driven by three tlc5940s with matte acrylic tubes mounted above to diffuse the light.
There’s a small program that reads an array containing the decimal digits of pi which are used to define where the next circle should be drawn. Then it moves the robot to this point and the next digits define the rgb-values on the starting point of each rotation and the colours at the end of each rotation. And finally one digit defines in which angle the rotation starts. This way the platform moves for about 4 to 5 minutes while a camera takes a time exporuse foto right from above.
Processing was used only to separate digits of pi needed for each drawing into single arrays used by the arduino.
If you’re interested in buying one of the light paintings contact Nils Völker on nils[at]nilsvoelker.com. Each photograph is reproduced only once and is signed on the back side. 40 x 40 cm, Lambda print on matte photographic paper mounted on Dibond backing, 200,— Eur (+ shipping).
See also on CAN: One Hundred and Eight [Processing] by Nils Völker
