Translating Complex Technology

About

"FlowStates" by Patrick Doan is a permanent data painting installation situated in the entrance hall of the ifo Institute, the prestigious Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich. This installation symbolizes the constant, dynamic change in our economy and society. The ifo Institute is renowned for its scientific excellence, notably recognized for its ability to generate, analyze, and interpret data. This expertise shapes the institute's work and ensures its ongoing impact across policy, business, and societal spheres. Built on the integration of data, technology, innovation, and interpretation, "FlowStates" is a data artwork that enables the ifo Institute to make economic developments perceptible in a new aesthetic dimension.

Constructing Visual Narratives from Economic Indicators

"FlowStates" is an intricate data artwork that integrates six unique designs, each driven by algorithms that convert data streams from the ifo business climate—spanning industries from manufacturing to transport—into varied visual forms. These streams are dynamically updated with correlated Eurostat data, such as international trade figures, construction production volumes, and consumer trends in online services across Europe. The artwork is presented in a temporal sequence governed by a day and night cycle. Rather than adhering to traditional, static perspectives, the designs are captured from multiple viewpoints. This dynamic approach means that the artwork does not have a conventional beginning, end, top, or bottom, defying standard orientations and inviting viewers to engage with it from any angle—challenging and expanding the traditional boundaries of how art is perceived and experienced.

Data visualization showing ifo Business Climate time-series charts

Data Painting Interface

Remote Control

In addition to the data painting itself, we developed a remotely accessible interface that gives our client enhanced control over the artwork. This tool allows the client to select specific designs or adjust settings for day and night versions.

Export Module

Traditionally, artwork remains within the confines of its physical exhibit. Recognizing this limitation, we designed and developed an export module for the data painting from scratch to extend the artwork's accessibility for our client. Remotely accessible, this module enables to use the art in various digital formats for videos, streaming to external screens, and creating stills for social media or print.

Abstract 3D sculpture of gray and green organic forms with particle effects
Close-up 3D render of intertwined ribbed organic structures in teal and purple
Abstract 3D composition of swirling translucent blue ribbons around a bright core

Nature's Code: Unveiling Complex Patterns Through Parametric Art and Data Streams

The visual designs of "Flow States" draw from the rich tapestry of natural forms, spanning the scale from the microscopic to the macroscopic. This naturalistic inspiration is distilled into a fluid visual language that seamlessly orchestrates the compositions. Reflecting the continuous flow of nature, these designs metaphorically represent the fluid dynamics of societal and civilizational transformations. Within this artistic framework, the visuals respond to real-time data streams, their motion, shape, speed, and color configurations dynamically shifting in reaction. This living interaction between art and data streams perpetually unveils new patterns, capturing the ever-evolving interplay between natural rhythms and human insights.

About the Artist: Patrick Doan

Patrick Doan is a Canadian artist living in Berlin. He is considered a leading figure in the real-time 3D digital art scene. His experiences span the areas of design, film, and architecture. His work includes dynamic 3D real-time graphics, live performances, music videos, and installations. Under his pseudonym “defasten,” Patrick Doan creates visionary visual designs consisting of sculptural, generative, and deconstructed geometric objects and elements. His work has been exhibited in over 25 countries and has received recognition at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Art Basel Miami (Beyond Basel), the New Museum in New York City, Ars Electronica, Transmediale, in Tokyo (Neo Shibuya TV), Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) and MIRA in Barcelona. As a member of the sonic research collective AUDINT from 2015 to 2021, they showed work at Unsound, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Arebyte, Sonar Istanbul, MUTEK Montréal, Loop Berlin. Patrick’s work is also featured in the book “The Age of Data” by Christoph Grünberger (Niggli Verlag), which includes works by pioneering artists Refik Anadol, Daito Manabe, Joshua Davis, Joëlle Snaith, Christopher Bauder, Quayola, Nonotak, and more.

Clients

Team