Ephemera of Existence

3D-Generated Anamorphic Image Processing.

Overview

Ephemera of Existence reimagines how we perceive human identity through images by transforming flat visuals into spatial experiences. The project constructs anamorphic 3D compositions from multiple 2D images, allowing viewers to encounter fragmented, abstract forms that resolve into recognizable figures only from specific viewpoints. What appears chaotic from one angle becomes coherent from another, turning perception itself into an active process.

Role

Interaction & Technical Lead

Team

Ben Kazer, Joe Tu

Institution / Year

Harvard University - Graduate School of Design 2023

Tools

Grasshopper | C#

Background

Conventional representations of humanness often rely on static images—snapshots that flatten identity into a single, fixed moment. This simplification overlooks the complex, evolving, and multi-sensory nature of human existence. The project emerges from a critique of this limitation, questioning how images might better reflect the fluidity and multiplicity of being human. It draws from ideas of perception, temporality, and the instability of visual truth.

Concept

The core concept treats humanness as something relational and perspective-dependent rather than fixed. By combining multiple images into a single spatial construct, the work creates a tension between abstraction and recognition. From most angles, the composition appears as a disordered cloud of fragments. But from precise viewpoints, these fragments align into clear, legible images. This anamorphic strategy positions perception as a negotiation—where meaning emerges only through movement, alignment, and discovery.

Ephemera of Existence - diagram overall white

The Project

Ephemera of Existence - Hero Image 1 fixed

Process

The project was developed by translating multiple 2D images into layered 3D geometries and strategically distributing them in space using anamorphic projection techniques. Each image is fragmented and mapped onto spatial coordinates so that they visually reconstruct from designated viewpoints. Iterations focused on calibrating alignment, density, and depth to balance abstraction and legibility. The final output is presented as a spatial projection, where viewers navigate the field to uncover shifting moments of clarity within an otherwise chaotic visual environment.

Ephemera of Existence - Technical Diagram

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