Week 2 Assignment Kyle Dann

 Teun van der Zalm

This week I have decided to write about Teun van der Zalm. From 2004 to 2008, Teun studied at Utrecht School of the arts in the Netherlands. While he was there he specialized in animation, but mainly 3d computer. During his time at the school he made several short films including "City of Lights" and "De Breuklijn". These films have been screened at all different festivals all over the world. After Teun graduated, he was searching for new computer technologies. While looking, he came across several opportunities to develop his own style. Over the last 3 years, he has developed a new way of using digital particles. A particle is a small localized object that can be ascribed several physical or chemical properties such as volume or mass. Using these properties and others, he is able to control millions of points in 3d space. He tries to create digital art with a natural feeling from physics and algorithms. If you were to look very close to his painting, you are able to separate each point or particle from each other. This technique is used to visualize the four elements: water, earth, fire, and air. His inspirations for creating his work came from films made in Germany from the 20's to paintings by Jackson Pollock. By using 3d particles he feels like he is able to go in any direction that his mind takes him to. His work is very unique. He is able to use just a few colors in his painting but also use so many 3d techniques that it is so easy to get lost looking into it. The paintings are a great example of a way that he is able to get the viewer involved and use their imagination to come up with objects that they see. 

Teun van der Zalm's art on the Web