Ombligo II transforms a 3D scan of a Joshua Tree rock formation into a dynamic particle system that explores the boundary between digital and natural landscapes. The piece deconstructs the solid mass of the rock into countless luminous particles, creating a tension between the permanence of geological formations and the ephemeral nature of digital matter.

The visualization presents the rock formation as both dissolving and crystallizing, with particles that seem to hover between states of cohesion and dispersal. Subtle atmospheric effects in the background suggest the desert winds that have shaped these rocks over millennia, while the golden particles evoke both stardust and desert sand.

Technical Implementation

The piece combines several technical approaches to achieve its distinctive aesthetic:

• 3D point cloud rendering from photogrammetry scan data
• Particle system physics simulation
• Atmospheric light scattering effects
• Dynamic particle size and luminosity variation

The movement of particles is influenced by both the original geometry of the rock formation and procedural force fields that create natural-looking dispersion patterns. The color palette draws from the golden hour lighting of the Mojave Desert, with subtle prismatic effects in the atmospheric backdrop.