Lattice

February, 2025

Custom software, Javascript, WebGL
Variable dimensions, silent
Edition of 1

Lattice is a program that generates geometric structures in real time. It uses symbols from the ASCII character set to create an evolving choreography of text-based patterns expanding on as many computer windows (or screens) available.
The main algorithm, similar to the Arabic ornaments of the mashrabiya windows at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, is recursive in nature: the resulting pattern is generated by combining smaller versions of the pattern itself.
The variations are laid out on a plane and the viewer is taken on a journey through a landscape made of movement and form.

Commissioned by Arab Bank Switzerland for the Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris.

Technical Notes

Custom ERC-721 smart-contract, all data fully on-chain.
The program is nearly stateless: each cell (char) is evaluated only by its position, time, and the global transform.
It operates on 248 rules (simmetries included), the rules are laid out on a plane and form a surface of 248 × 248 “windows”, with a total length of 16'860 characters (or about 151'740 pixels) per side.
Multiple synchronized instances can run concurrently within a single browser window, across several browsers, or on multiple machines, kept in alignment through the system-clock.

Smart contract (custom)

Storage: Fully on-chain (metadata, code, svg) Blockchain: Ethereum Mainnet Token Standard: ERC-721 Token ID: #0 Address: 0xc01db8b4e8002bb806e60a7212f8ebb20181e6e4

Installation at Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris

Lattice is presented on five synchronized 2×3 meter LED screens facing the mashrabiya-inspired mechanical apertures on the opposite side of the space.

Lattice

View in fullscreen.

keys

url parameters (default values)

i  toggle info
↑↓ adjust scale
f  fullscreen
s  export PNG
t  export TXT
c  canvas border

fps              (30)
pixel            (1)
canvasWidth      (0)
canvasHeight     (0)
numCanvases      (1)
instanceOffset   (0)
seed             (random)
charColorFg      (CC0000)
charColorBg      (000000)
accentColorFg    (FF2200)
accentColorBg    (000000)
frameColorFg     (880000)
frameColorBg     (000000)
frameWidth       (64)
frameHeight      (64)
fractalDepth     (2)
frameSpacing     (4)
charSpacingX     (1)
charSpacingY     (1)
densityPadStart  (8)
densityPadChar   (·)
maxChars         (65536)
disableMotion    (false)
disableRotation  (false)
disableZoom      (false)
showInfo         (false)
showGrid         (false)