Poetics of the Infinite
Iskra Velitchkova, Lars Wander, Zach Lieberman
Through fragrance, geometries, and light, three artists contemplate infinity as an unfolding encounter, offering the viewer glimpses into the endless experiences that lie beyond simple representation.
About
Poetics of the Infinite presents layered interpretations of the unknowable translated into scent, weaving, and sculptural form, featuring both physical and digital works by Iskra Velitchkova, Lars Wander, and Zach Lieberman.
INK
Iskra Velitchkova
Two separate collections
INK (fragrances): Edition of 6 unique fragrances and vessels with digital artworks
INK: 100 unique generative artworks
while true
Lars Wander
Two separate collections
while true (fabric): Single edition of 4 jacquard fabric panels with digital artwork
while true: 60 unique generative artworks
Box Light Studies
Zach Lieberman
Two separate collections
Box Light Studies (sculpture): Unique sculpture with digital artwork
Box Light Studies: 100 unique generative artworks
Together, these bodies of work take nuanced lenses on confronting the unrepresentable. Whether through the nature of light, complex geometries, or scent, the artists’ desire to communicate what is ineffable about being human is revealed in glancing, glittering fragments.
The works
INK
Iskra Velitchkova
Iskra Velitchkova’s INK invokes infinity through the interplay of ephemeral fragrances and delicate, recursive lines. In her collection INK (fragrances), the fragrance becomes a vessel for memory, inviting contemplation of the elusive nature of human experiences. Each generative fragrance, crafted through an algorithmic process that ensures no two are alike, transcends mere visual representation, offering a visceral encounter that immerses both mind and body. The digital-only release of INK expands on these themes, delving into memory through recursive drawing, striving to articulate the space where the past can be both recaptured and transcended.
02 Dec 2024 at 5:00 PM
INK (fragrances)
Edition of 6 unique fragrances and vessels with digital artworks
Fixed price of $1,000 USD
“INK speaks to the pursuit of permanence in a world destined to vanish. Whether in blue or black, in pencil or rust, each line reflects fragments, yet none of it is real; it is only experiences, biases, dreams, and demons. To this, INK adds fragrance, a scent that declares “I was here, I existed.” For a moment, breathe it in, take in the work. In this quiet persistence, we find redemption—an echo of those who remain and those who have already gone.”
Iskra Velitchkova
Box Light Studies
Zach Lieberman
Zach Lieberman’s Box Light Studies invites an inquiry into the fluid nature of light and perception. Lieberman’s Box Light Studies (sculpture)explores light materialized in a wall-mounted sculpture that challenges viewers to engage with the relativity inherent in the visible spectrum. Emphasizing the fleeting yet impactful moments revealed to the eye through illumination, this work invites the viewer to get lost in the cascading effects of color shifts and refraction planes. Expanded further with the digital-only release of Box Light Studies, the collection showcases Lieberman’s distinct algorithmic gestures, where light refracts, flows, shifts, and morphs, casting echoes into unknown realms. gestures, where light refracts, flows, shifts, and morphs, casting echoes into unknown realms. Through this journey, Lieberman illuminates the bounded experience of seeing while confronting the desire to reach beyond it.
16 Dec 2024 at 5:00 PM
Box Light Studies (sculpture)
Unique sculpture with digital artwork
Fixed sale of $8,000 USD
“When art hits, really hits, I can feel it in my body. It changes my heart rate, it tells me something about the world. And that is what I'm trying to convey through this work, through all my work; how something that seems simple is actually completely bottomless.”
Zach Lieberman
Behind the exhibition
A glimpse into the creative space where Lieberman produces and practices his artistic work.
Exploring the boundaries of perception
Fundamental to Poetics of the Infinite is a commitment to pushing the boundaries of generative art. Each artist engages in a unique process that merges intention with spontaneity, allowing their works to emerge moment by moment across both physical and digital realms. This exhibition highlights the transient nature of art-making, where each step reflects the artist's journey through an active engagement with the unrepresentable.
Velitchkova in her studio.
Wander's studio, featuring a plotter that uses watercolor paints.
Lieberman reviewing prints from his practice in his studio.
Through these collections, the artworks invite viewers to contemplate the infinite across a multitude of artistic practices. For Iskra Velitchkova, the elusive study of memory pulses through each recursive line, configured through endless variations. Her algorithmic impressions and personal experiences are translated to formulas for the delicate medium of fragrance—which evolves and decays as perception itself does—generating compositions deeply intertwined with their algorithmic manifestations. In this exploration of endless configurations, Lars Wander's process unfolds through algorithmic inquiry, with his interest in mathematical set theory informing his practice and guiding his exploration of form. Separately, Zach Lieberman's artistic practice explores the realms of vision, light, and rendered constraints, capturing the viewer's perception across and through the screen, extending it into the tangible world. Practicing his craft within his studio—where both manufactured neon lights and the flow of daylight serve as constant inspiration—he navigates the dynamic interplay between the apparent and the coming-to-be.
From top to bottom, left to right: Ink pools on Velitchkova's artwork; Wander's watercolor pans set aside the plotter; a view of the fragrance crafting bench; Lieberman's desk, strewn.
Distinct yet interconnected, Poetics of the Infinite unites three unique artists with practices that prompt viewers to consider what can be and what may emerge. The physicalities of the world are reshaped through perception and experience, rendering an endless realm of interpretation that finds resonance in concepts that are both familiar and previously uncharted. Each artist—Velitchkova, Wander, and Lieberman—invites audiences into their respective realms of exploration, challenging them to engage with the fluidity of perception and the limitless possibilities that arise from the act of creation. In this space, viewers are encouraged to embark on their own journeys, discovering new dimensions of meaning and experience.
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The artists
Iskra Velitchkova
b. 1988, Bulgaria
Lives and works in Madrid, Spain
Iskra Velitchkova is a Bulgarian artist based in Madrid with a technology and artificial intelligence background. Her work delves into the complex interactions between humans and machines, investigating how these dynamics can deepen our understanding of human limitations and potential. Working within the field of generative art, Velitchkova combines digital formats and physical media to explore new visual possibilities. She employs generative systems, artificial neural networks, and various mixed techniques including drawing, sculpture, and ceramics. Velitchkova has exhibited internationally at venues such as Galerie Greulich, MADS Gallery, and Sotheby's.
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Lars Wander
b. Germany
Lives and works in New York City, USA
Lars Wander is a computer artist and programmer based in New York City, whose work explores the intersections of computation, perception, and generative systems. His practice centers on creating visual art exclusively through code, designing intricate software systems that generate unpredictable, algorithmically driven outcomes. Wander has exhibited internationally and is represented by ARTxCODE. Previously, he worked as a visualization specialist at Google, developing software to model global-scale storage systems; his related scientific research has been published in journals including IEEE. Wander has a longstanding passion for programming and regularly builds his tools using languages such as Javascript, WebGL2, and Julia to support his generative art practice.
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Zach Lieberman
b. 1977, USA
Lives and works in New York City, USA
Zach Lieberman is a New York-based artist, educator, and programmer who integrates human gesture and interactive technology to create immersive, code-based installations and performances. His practice centers on transforming human input, such as drawing and movement, into dynamic visual and auditory expressions, revealing playful and unexpected forms of interaction. Lieberman's projects have garnered awards including the Golden Nica from Ars Electronica and Interactive Design of the Year from the Design Museum London, and his work has been featured in institutions such as New York's Museum of Modern Art. He holds a BA in Fine Arts from Hunter College and an MFA in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design. Additionally, Lieberman co-created openFrameworks, an influential open-source C++ toolkit for creative coding, and co-founded the School for Poetic Computation, where he explores and teaches the expressive potential of code. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab. code. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab.
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