The Project

Formas is a project I began in November 2023, born from a desire to explore simplicity in creation. I was fascinated by the idea of starting with something handcrafted, translating it into the digital realm, enhancing it with code and plugins, and then refining it once again by hand bridging the tactile with the computational to craft something visually compelling.

At the same time, I wanted to create something alongside my two children. Many in the Web3 community know that my kids, both on the autism spectrum, inspire me daily with their brilliant minds and kind hearts. I began exploring ways to bring them into the creative process, searching for an approach that felt natural and meaningful for all of us.

Echolalia & Stimming

Two traits commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that my kids exhibit and that I wanted to weave into this project are echolalia and stimming.

Echolalia is the repetition of words or phrases spoken by others. While it’s a natural part of language development in young children, for those on the spectrum, it often serves as a form of communication, a way of processing and expressing thoughts.

Stimming, on the other hand, is a self-regulation mechanism that helps individuals with ASD cope with sensory overload. In my kids' case, this often takes the form of extended spinning in circular motions a rhythmic, almost meditative movement that brings them comfort.

The Spirograph

Once I knew I wanted to focus on repetition and circular motion, the next step was finding a medium that allowed for hands-on creation while seamlessly translating into digital vectors. That’s when I rediscovered an old companion from my childhood, one that had captivated me for hours on end, endlessly iterating to form intricate mathematical shapes: The Spirograph.

I was thrilled to realize how naturally it aligned with my vision. From there, I began working with my two sons to create a series of simple, hand-drawn shapes.

The Shapes

Below are a couple of pictures of my kids drawing the original shapes. After digitizing them, I applied basic shape smoothing while intentionally preserving their natural irregularities. Interestingly, those imperfections didn’t detract from the design; instead, they gave birth to even more compelling, organic forms.

The Process

Once digitized, I began experimenting with pattern generation in Illustrator, incorporating well established plugins that mimic the physical output of a Spirograph. There were several technical aspects to refine such as determining the method of rotation (linear, sinusoidal, or circular) while adjusting the angle of each increment.

As the shapes overlapped, I also had to consider how to handle fading effects, especially in the more intricate designs, ensuring a seamless visual flow. To make each piece truly unique, I explored meaningful numbers across various disciplines, cultural symbolism, music, engineering, and mathematics embedding layers of significance that I hope collectors will uncover along the way.

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The Final Touches

Each of the 250 outputs was meticulously finished by hand, with careful attention given to defining the stroke size of each line. Gradients were then applied, thoughtfully selected using color theory to evoke specific emotions.

What fascinated me most was how subtle choices such as the number of lines, the approach to fading and rotation, and the interplay of gradients could produce remarkably distinct results, even when working with the same base shapes.

In closing

This project evolved into something far more meaningful as I took my time bringing my kids into the creative process. What began as an artistic exploration became a deeply personal journey one that reflects not just my love for creation, but also my love for them.

I hope that through Formas, you’ve come to know a little more about me, what drives me each day, and the deep connections that shape my work. More than anything, I dream of one day giving back to the ASD community through my art. In many ways, Formas is just the beginning; a first step in what I hope will be a long and beautiful journey of exploration, connection, and purpose.

To date, Formas has been exhibited in the following venues:

Aula Magna, Pontificia Accademia Delle Scienze (Vatican city, Italy), May 2024
Digital Renaissance, Villa Medici (Rome, Italy), May 2024
Art Basel Week, Palazzo Civico Municipio di Lugano (Lugano, Switzerland), June 2024