Ode to the FFT
ArtScience, 2024
The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is a widely used algorithm in digital signal processing that revolutionized the way signals are analyzed and processed. It was developed in the 1960s and has since become an essential tool for a wide range of applications in science, and engineering. The FFT is an efficient algorithm that computes the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of a sequence of data points. The DFT is a mathematical operation that transforms a time-domain signal into its frequency-domain representation, which reveals the frequency components that make up the signal. The FFT is a much faster way to compute the DFT compared to the naive algorithm, making it more practical for real-world applications.
The impact of the FFT has been immense. It has enabled the development of a wide range of applications, including digital audio processing, image processing, data compression, and telecommunications, to name just a few. It is a testament to the power of mathematics and its ability to transform the way we understand and manipulate signals.
I am interested in how the FFT unveils hidden harmonies. How this tool offers us a new way to perceive, changing our perspective on the raw data of our world. How it mediates between two different realms, uncovering some of their secrets and symmetries. The FFT ignites my imagination both scientifically and artistically. This is why, in homage to this tool, I have created this work. For which I developed a fading algorithm that leverages the power of the FFT to blend pictures and their Fourier Transforms. I use it to explore new ways of artistic expression to make the hidden and complex digital world around us visible. ​
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For the KunstParade exhibition at Museum Prinsenhof Delft I created a diptych, on view from 18 Oktober 2024 untill 5 January 2025. The result is a contemporary interpretation of stained glass windows in which form and color merge and evaporate in waves.
Discrete Fourier Transform definition
Butterfly computation in the decimation-in-
time FFT algorithm
Fourier Transform​
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Inverse Fourier Transform​
Another version of this work was shown during the "Blikopener Museumnacht" event in Museum Prinsenhof Delft on May 9th 2023. The exhibition was curated and organized by and for students.
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