Coding Projects.

My project explores the natural intelligence that fungal mycelial networks use, utilising these biological systems as nature's original neural networks. Through interactive hand gesture visualisation, I conveyed how fungi demonstrate complex communication, decision making, and learning behaviours that challenge our human understanding of intelligence.

My work is inspired from mycorrhizal research, which reveals how these organisms create large underground networks that can extend for kilometres, using chemical communication between plants and coordinating ecosystem-wide responses. Like biological neural networks, mycelial networks process information, make decisions and adapt to environmental changes through distributed intelligence rather than centralised control structures. I was also inspired by the Mycelium Network artwork shown at Enlighten in 2025.

My visualisation uses hand movements to create signals that move through a network of interconnected 'nodes', mimicking how chemical messages travel through fungal hyphae. The user's hand gestures become the tool for triggering the neural-like activity, where signals will decay over time and trigger new responses throughout the network, showing how fungi uses chemical messengers like peptides, alcohols, and volatile compounds to coordinate group behaviours.

The first variation of code shows a clear representation using white nodes and signals against a black background. This minimalist approach emphasises the technical structure of the network while keeping scientific accuracy. The second variation introduces colour mapping based on hand position, where horizontal movement controls the hue and vertical movement controls the brightness.

Both of my variations explore the similarities between human communication and fungal chemical signaling. Just as we use hand movements to convey meaning and intention, fungi utilise complex molecular languages for reproduction, resource allocation, and environmental responses. The real time interaction design creates feedback loops between human movement and digital fungal network, demonstrating how biological learning systems respond to and shape their environments.

My work challenges the opposition between natural and artificial intelligence by revealing the computational complexity already seen in biological systems. Through interactive visualisation, my artwork invites viewers to consider how fungi represent a different model of intelligence—one that is based on collaborative networking rather than individual cognition.

My creative artwork Follow The Moon conveys a nocturnal garden where endings and beginnings are displayed as an eternal cycle.

My work is centered around the Hawk Moth, a creature whose existence is based around the theme of transformation. As viewers move their cursor across the screen, the moth responds with flight, leaving a luminous trail behind it.

The seven phases of the moon serve as both a timekeeper and conductor, keeping the garden's rhythm. When viewers hover the cursor over different lunar phases, they witness how the moth's lifecycle actually works. For instance, under a full moon, the moth lays its eggs because of the brightness and clear visibility. At the waxing crescent caterpillars (larval) develop and under the first quarter the cocoons (pupes) appear. The waxing gibbous is where the moths feed and pollinate the moon flowers, waning gibbous is where they start mating, the third quarter portrays their territorial behaviour, and the waning crescent is where they start their migration patterns. Each phase of the moon triggers each of these behaviours which reveals how moon cycles can guide nature's activities.

The moonflowers bloom and close in response to the lunar presence, their petals open and close depending on when the cursor is touching the moon or not. This interactive element creates an active role for the viewer to participate in rather than just observing. The flower's opening sequence is a metaphor for awareness and patience, showing us that real life situations require the right conditions to be able to function properly.

The ambient soundscapes of night creatures, rustling leaves, moth wings, amongst the other ambient night sounds creates an even more immersive environment for the viewer that extends beyond the visuals of the sketch. The layered audio overlaps and moves in and out, flowing like breathing, reminding the viewer that even in stillness, life continues to transform.

My work suggests the concept that endings are never a final destination, but rather continuous cycles of renewal. The moth's migration under the waning crescent doesn't necessarily signal departure but instead preparation for return. The flower's closing when not in moonlight (at dawn) doesn't signify death but instead gathers strength for the next bloom. In this digital ecosystem, viewers can witness how moments of endings or conclusions are a part of a larger cycle of existence.

Through both interaction and observation, Follow The Moon portrays a never ending cycle through a timeline created by a celestial cycle, this serves as a reminder that in nature there is no ending or beginning but rather a continuity of life.

My interactive artwork 'Rescue Otters' explores how player responsibility mirrors the real world interactions of conservation groups caring for marine life. Players are invited to care for rescue sea otters by providing food, rest, and playtime. This idea was inspired by my visit to the Monterey Aquarium during my travels in America, where I observed their rescue otter rehabilitation programme. I noted how cared for these animals were, often hidden from public view as they rested or fed, rather than being displayed as entertainment.

This experience successfully portrays the 'Duty of Care' theme, which I interpret in my work by placing viewers in a position of responsibility. The digital otters, inspired after the ones at Monterey, depend on the viewer's attention and observation to thrive in their environment. Through this artwork, I aim to recognise our role as protectors of marine ecosystems.

'Rescue Otter' interprets the theme 'Duty of Care' by giving the viewer full responsibility over the animals. Players must both observe the otters' needs and act appropriately to fulfil their duty of care. The job of the player is to give the otters food, playtime and rest. If the player disregards these duties, then the animals become visibly slower, portraying the physical outcome of neglect. This mirrors real life human ignorance on marine ecosystems and communicates why it is important for conservation groups to help protect marine wildlife.

The concept of 'shading' also connects to my 'Rescue Otters' artwork. My implementation of water shaders helps to create a dynamic, protective environment that symbolises the care and shelter these vulnerable animals require. The shader creates gentle, moving patterns that mimic the natural movement of real water. Similar to how rehabilitation centres (like Monterey Aquarium) provide carefully controlled environments for rescue otters, my digital water creates a space where the otters can heal and thrive under the player's care.

The colour palette of my sketch design uses cool blues and warm browns to contrast the otters against their environment. This creates visual interest and makes the otters stand out as the main subject of the design. The smooth, rounded shapes of the otters' bodies and fluid movement patterns were designed to mimic the motion of real life otters. The simplified shapes and 2D design give a sense of simplicity and vulnerability.

'Duty of Care' is directly illustrated through the interaction of the design by the player being the main source of the otter's survival. Each action (feeding, play, rest) is required to be constantly checked and acted upon to help the otters thrive in their environment. This highlights the importance of having the otters' purpose not purely be entertainment for an audience but to have their main focus be to heal and thrive in their environment.

My artistic response explores the aesthetic and technical foundations of low poly 3D graphics, specifically drawing inspiration from the minimalist geometric style in games such as Monument Valley. This work represents a deliberate style choice to reduce polygon counts not as a technical limitation but as an intentional artistic choice that shows simplicity, abstraction, and clarity.

The generated landscapes in this piece demonstrate how low poly techniques can create visually striking environments through a balance of geometric reduction and colour palette selection. Each terrain is made using a limited number of triangular faces, creating a simplified look that still shows recognisable landforms. The soft pastel colour palette directly references Monument Valley's aesthetic approach, using colour variation to create visual interest and depth to compliment the simplified geometry.

By incorporating procedural generation and interactive elements, my work reflects the evolution of low poly art from a technical necessity to a deliberate artistic choice. The rotating perspective and regeneration features show how viewers can interact with different viewpoints, showing how our minds naturally fill in missing details through visual psychology concepts like closure and reification. This relates to the Gestalt principles where viewers' minds can complete patterns and recognise images with a simplified style.

The mathematical foundation of my landscape relies on Perlin noise to generate natural looking terrain height variations, creating a balance between randomness and coherence that mimics natural geological formations. This connects to the history of early 3D graphics where algorithms were essential for creating environments with limited technical resources. The terrain triangulation method I've used divides the landscape into regular grids that are then transformed into triangular faces.

This piece also shows the minimalism aesthetic and the idea that simplicity can enhance artistic designs. Through the deliberate low polygon count, I've created landscapes that focus attention on important elements rather than overwhelming with unnecessary detail.

My work conveys how the aesthetic principles of simplicity can create a visually striking work and invites viewers to appreciate the beauty of digital artists embracing limitations as creative opportunities.