I was approached by Spanish artist Karlos Gil to make CG recreations of ctenophores, marine creatures known for their unusual features, especially their luminescent properties. These videos were included in the generative film "Peripheral", part of his exhibition "Timefall", at Ca2M. This marked the largest exhibition of his work to date. The exhibition was curated by Peio Aguirre, curator of the Spanish Pavillion at the 2019 Venice Biennale.

The film is displayed in close dialogue with Karlos´ "De-extinction" sculptures, which are made from derelict and found neon signs. An artificial character was pivotal for the film, as evidenced by the references that composed the foundation for the visual identity. We sought an intersection between a scientific replica and a stylized, science-fiction creature, reaching a point where reality meets fiction. 

Given the very specific nature of their skin, these creatures posed a challenge to manufacture. To guarantee a high level of fidelity, and to understand their body volume (formed by several overlapping, translucid skin layers) small size clay sculptures of various ctenophores were modeled in the early stages. The second main challenge was the animation of the cilia, comb-like protuberances that grant ctenophores their movement and are also responsible for their luminescence. For this, I developed a physically accurate simulation using hair dynamics for the movement, and a custom specular behavior for their surface.