The Paper Sea #2
This interactive digital artwork transforms a cardboard ocean composition into a living field of up to two million particles. Powered by WebGL 2, the work uses the source image’s color and brightness to define particle appearance and sculpt a dimensional surface.
Pressing and holding lifts the particles, while dragging introduces directional forces that reshape their flow. Each particle retains its original color as it moves, carrying fragments of the composition through the evolving surface. Interaction gradually weakens the particles’ attraction to their starting positions, allowing gestures to leave temporary traces that slowly settle.
Motion is calculated in real time on the GPU. A continuous flow field sustains subtle movement, while adaptive particle density helps accommodate different devices.
Technical details: WebGL 2 · GPU-based particle simulation · Up to 2 million particles · Brightness-based depth · Persistent particle color · Gradually decaying interaction memory · Mouse and touch controls · Self-contained HTML with embedded artwork and code.