About the project
“Take a Spline for a Walk” is an exploration of the new spline functions introduced in p5.js 2.x. The piece is inspired by, and it is also a word play on the famous quote by Paul Klee: “A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.”
Lately, I've been exploring unfolding algorithms and generating drawings on low-poly 3D surfaces. In those works, a line doesn't stop at the edge of one face but continues seamlessly onto the next. The same idea is carried over into this piece: instead of ending the line at the edge of a page, it continues across multiple pages.
On the screen, the work appears as an animation of curved lines. Once printed, however, it can be folded into a small zine-like book, where those curves reveal themselves to be a single continuous line that can be followed from page to page.
To make the book, save either the A3 or A4 version (press [3] or [4] keys respectively), then print it at home or at a local print shop. Cut along the outer dashed lines, fold along the solid lines, and make the cut indicated in the center. Fold the sheet along its main axis, gently push the center inward, and collapse it into a small book where the spline can continue its walk.
If you need more help, press [H] to display the assembly instructions and more hidden keys for interactions.
“Take a Spline for a Walk” is part of p5.js v2 Artist Series
Produced by Processing Foundation in partnership with the Tezos Foundation and Bootloader.
See all iterations of Take a Spline for a Walk →