Erik Swahn

Each *Funktor* is defined by a sequence of mathematical functions called signed distance functions. This type of function describes the relationship between the interior and exterior of shapes, yielding negative or positive values depending on whether a point in space belongs to the inside or the outside of the shapes they describe, and values close to zero for points on the boundary between them.

In that sense, they are like architectural drawings, only instead of lines, they use the the value zero to mark the boundaries between outside and inside - in other words, walls. A room, in this context, is therefore a region of space that return negative values when its defining function is sampled.

In *Funktor*, a simple sequence of such functions is defined, then twice extruded and interpolated, as if going from floor to floor, with the previous level transforming into the next through simple linear interpolation. There are no surfaces, only a field of points at regular intervals, sampled in space. For values close to zero, there's a coloured dot. In that way, only the boundaries between inside and outside are visible, sometimes floating in space, sometimes standing firmly on a ground plane.

You can press '1' to '5' to export PNG image files of increasing resolution. You can press 'e' to export an STL file that can be used for 3D printing, or 'o' to export an OBJ file. You can also press 'g' to export a GIF animation and 'p' to repaint the Funktor. Note that the STL and OBJ files can be very large.

*Funktor* is part of the exhibition *Generative Architecture* and was written in Javascript using p5.js in 2023.

Funktor

Prepare a rectangular or square canvas. Pick one or two sets of pigments. Plot one or two fields of slightly irregular dots, with one layer for each pigment. Offset each layer slightly, horizontally or vertically. Apply a level of randomness to the placement of each dot so that pigments in lower layers can obscure pigments in higher layers. Optionally, divide and displace the randomness in rectangular patches.

Click on press the image and press 1-5 to export the image in increasing resolution. Note that browsers have different upper limits for canvas size. There are five different aspect ratios: 1:1, 5:8, 8:5, 1:2, and 2:1.

*Fields* is part of the group exhibition *Imperfections*. 


Erik Swahn

Featured works

Verse exhibitions

From the Journal

Generative Architecture: Questions and Answers with Artists & Curators

Erik Swahn on the Evolution of his Practice