The project
How to bring together the botanical world with the field of neurology? At first glance, they appear so far apart, hardly associated in the images they carry. Yet, in reality, plants and neurons share much in common: they both have extensions at the ends of their bodies. They both have the characteristic of connecting and ‘communicating’ with their peers. And, finally, they both have the ability to ignite.
The narrative of hot flashes typical during menopause unfolds through the metaphor of a blazing forest in which the protagonists get caught up.
The four female protagonists (each embodying the typical characteristics of a geographic area) were photographed in the studio by the photographer Andrich, while LSD worked on the 3D elements to create a forest of neurons with light starting at the roots and spreading along the trunk.
Then LSD brought the photos of the main characters and their surrounding to life.
The initial phase of the process focused on exploring the effects of glowing lights to create movements and intensity reminiscent of real flames. We then moved on to crafting the ‘map’ of the forest, using the procedural software Houdini. This allowed the tree-neurons to resemble each other while maintaining individual differences. We aimed to ensure that the distances between them appeared authentic and natural, rather than artificially created.
The project faced its most complex phase during the rendering stage, opting for simultaneous processing rather than a final composite.
Here’s the final image for press.
The video
Here’s the final version.
