ryoji ikeda: transfinite
‘transfinite’ by ryoji ikeda at the park avenue armory in new york city, USA
above image © kain vuong

‘the transfinite’ by japanese artist and electronic composer ryoji ikeda is a large-scale digital installation
and sonic landscape that explore the concept of infinity, rationality, and the beauty of data. commissioned by
the park avenue armory in new york city, the project is ikeda’s first work in the united states.

featuring a projection screen measuring 13.7m tall by 1.3m wide, the installation bisects the space of
the hall with pulsating patterns of real-time binary analysis of the artist’s soundtrack. a fully-immersive
audio and visual experience, ‘the transfinite’ enables visitors to interact with the scrolling information on
a personal and intimate level.

‘to me, the purest beauty is the world of mathematics. its perfect assemblage of numbers, magnitudes
and forms persist, independent of us. the aesthetic experience of the sublime in mathematics is
awe-inspiring. it is similar to the experience we have when we confront the vast magnitude of the universe,
which always leaves us open-mouthed… this project explores the transfinite (the infinite that is quantitative
and ordered) intersection that lies between such polarizations – the beautiful and the sublime;
music and mathematics; performance and installation; composer and visual artist: black and white;
0s and 1s’
-ryoji ikeda

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © agent j loves agent a

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © agent j loves agent a

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © agent j loves agent a

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © agent j loves agent a

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © agent j loves agent a

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © marius watz

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © marius watz

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © marius watz


ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © marius watz

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © agent j loves agent a

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © marius watz

ryoji ikeda: transfinite
image © sheena matheiken


ryoji ikeda: transfinite

infiniti digital art competition
currently, designboom in collaboration with INFINITI is offering an international competition
asking participants to design spectacular or interactive digital artworks,to be installed and displayed
throughout europe. participation is open to applicants from every country in the world: to professionals,
students, vjs, and design-enthusiasts.

registration is free and now open, through july 8th, 2011.
for more information about the competition and how to register, click here.