Stato Entangled

Mixed Media • Projection Mapping & Organic Sculpture • 2026

In Collaboration with

Amy Thai

Sculptor

Alessandro Valenza

Botanical Artist

1. The Event: Luce Interna

Stato Entangled debuted at LUCE INTERNA in Carrara, Italy. Set against the backdrop of historic marble quarries and ancient architecture, the contrast of digital projection mapping on organic glass sculpture created a stunning dialogue between classical materials and new media art.

2. The Setup

Calibrating the projection mapping on-site required precision alignment to match the delicate curves of the handcrafted glass.

3. Sculpture Process

Stato Entangled stands as a testament to cross-disciplinary collaboration. Amy Thai meticulously handcrafted the delicate glass structure to encapsulate the physical weight of the form, while Alessandro Valenza introduced the ephemeral life of the rare botanical elements. The physical foundation had to be flawless before any digital augmentation could occur.

Glass Form Detail

4. Houdini Process & Digital Twin

To bridge the gap between the physical and digital, we first had to capture a highly accurate Digital Twin of the glass sculpture. This 3D scan allowed us to import the exact physical contours of the piece into Houdini, enabling precise look development and accurate collision meshes for the subsequent fluid dynamics.

5. Houdini Simulation

With the Digital Twin in place, bespoke fluid dynamics were dialed in to react gently to the physical contours of the glass. Two distinct behavioral variations were simulated: a smooth, continuous "Flow" state, and a turbulent, chaotic "Curl" state. Both act as a living, breathing aura that complements the fragile anatomy of the orchid.

Flow Sped up by 300%

Curl Sped up by 300%

6. Projection Mapping

The rendered simulations were brought back into the physical world through mapped projection onto the rear curve of the glass structure, illuminating the rare orchid from behind without overwhelming its natural beauty.