#57

ARTXCODE proudly presents Virga, an exploration of transience by William Watkins. Inspired by the meteorological phenomenon where rain evaporates before reaching the ground, Virga captures the delicate tension between presence and disappearance — where abundance gives way to absence. It is a meditation on impermanence, revealing how fleeting moments shape human experience in ways we may not immediately perceive.

Virga unfolds in layered compositions where faces emerge from shifting, atmospheric backdrops. Some figures step forward with clarity, while others dissolve into the visual cascade — sketch-like, spectral, elusive. As these forms morph and distort, they oscillate between human likeness and organic structures, evoking the fluidity of corals and the intricate formations of shells.

At the heart of Virga is a system written entirely in code, creating everything from the faces to the sketch-like rendering. Each subject is constructed from approximately 50 mathematical primitives — spheres, boxes, ellipses — sculpted through variables such as line length, density, repetition, and blur. Subsystems govern the expression and the surrounding environment: one ensures figures gaze at us, while another transforms background textures into fragmented silhouettes. Triplanar mapping introduces subtle variations across surfaces, producing a shifting interplay of abstraction and realism. The result is a work that feels both deliberate and organic, precise yet deeply emotive.

Beyond its technical intricacy, Virga radiates a deeper resonance, embracing the paradox of impermanence. Though precipitation may never reach the earth, its effects like downdrafts, temperature shifts, and new cloud formations reshape the atmosphere. Even the most fleeting gestures, like virga itself, leave unseen yet lasting imprints. "Small moments," Watkins reflects, "are integral to the human experience. Life is shaped by them.”

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Virga makes heavy use of the GPU, lower-end devices my struggle to run it properly.

William Watkins x ARTXCODE March 2025