Cosmodernism: The Magic of Macro Art and Magnetic Liquids

Multidisciplinary artist Kamil Czapiga, better known as Cosmodernism, mixes chemistry, macro photography, light and sound design to create hypnotising abstract video art. 

Cosmodernism: The Magic of Macro Art and Magnetic Liquids
"No CGI, just ferrofluid and ink on a microscope slide captured with a macro lens. Real size 4-7 mm." All images, videos and audio by Kamil Czapiga (Cosmodernism).

Multidisciplinary artist Kamil Czapiga, better known as Cosmodernism on Instagram, mixes chemistry, macro photography, light and sound design to create hypnotizing abstract video artworks. 

Polish artist Kamil Czapiga always avoided colors. He was diagnosed with mild Daltonism as a child, a form of color blindness that affects the eye’s ability to distinguish between reds and greens. When his parents sent him to art high school at the age of 13, he struggled with painting and mixing the colors. So he found a way to express himself without them, creating abstract drawings in black ink. After high school, this creative approach stayed with him throughout fine arts university where he studied Graphic Design and received a bachelor's degree in Illustration. He then opened a tattoo studio in his hometown Katowice creating designs and tattooing for more than 11 years. 

“I always loved optical effects and experiments” 

Cosmodernism

Little did he know that everything was about to change when he tried on the magnifying glasses from a friend who used to make jewelry as a hobby. “When you put them on, it's as if you were looking through a microscope just with less magnification," says Kamil. “And if you don’t put anything in front of it then your view turns blurry and you immerse yourself into this dreamy world. I always loved all of those optical effects you can achieve with different kinds of glasses, tools and gadgets, things that play with your perception and change your field of view. That made me want to experiment with it even more and I hinted to my friend that maybe a microscope was something that I would need.” 

Said and done. For his next birthday, his friends joined forces and gave him a microscope. Kamil started experimenting with everything he could find in his home: soap, oil, alcohol, inks, cleaning detergent and other liquids and chemicals stored in his bathroom or kitchen shelf. He tried to achieve some interesting visual effects to use as wall projections for a party. “I was inspired by the liquid light shows of the 60s and 70s. On an overhead projector you can layer up glass plates and then pour some oils and alcohols and inks into it so you get these psychedelic shapes to project them onto the walls during concerts.”

Interview with Cosmodernism by The Overview.

Every night when Kamil got home from his tattoo studio, he would spend hours experimenting with the microscope. At first he was just plugging his iPhone into the ocular of the microscope with a special adapter, but a few weeks later he bought his first camera to capture the magic of the microscopic world unfolding beneath his eyes in even more detail. 

“I always had this urge to pursue abstract expression with color but due to my colorblindness I never had the courage to experiment with it. When I got my first microscope I noticed that when you mix those inks, they know what to do. They know how to mix with themselves. And when you add the chemicals, they start to blend in very special ways."

“I always struggled with chemistry in high school”

After years of drawing symmetrical and geometrical illustrations in black and white, Kamil finally found his gateway to the abstract expression with colors. “It was an amazing discovery for me to experiment with all those different forms and colors–there are unlimited possibilities working with such a medium. It opened up this new universe, although I had no background in science, quite the opposite, I always struggled with chemistry in high school. I was just driven by curiosity to learn how to create those optical effects. Even with just some drops of water, oil and a certain type of light design you can already achieve some really beautiful results.”

Video by Cosmodernism

Besides the ingredients the artist finds in his home, he also experiments with different kinds of chemicals like for example ferrofluids, magnetic liquids designed by NASA in the 1960s. Mixed with ink and other substances, it creates stunning shapes known as Turing Patterns. “The ferrofluids can be controlled with a magnet underneath and you can make them move. Over time I have refined the technique. Now I have custom-made motorized stages and other tools that help me to create even more complex effects. First I pieced those custom-devices with Lego bricks together, then an engineer friend of mine helped me to build them. 

“I realized the equipment I needed was far above my budget”

But before he could experiment with ferrofluids in such a complex way, he needed the right equipment. After exploring all possibilities with his first microscope Kamil reached a point where he needed a more sophisticated tool. So he started to investigate online, spent months in forums learning about microscopy and dived into the world of laboratory supplies.  “I went through all the discussions in forums but I didn’t understand a word of what they were talking about. Sometimes I needed to read comments several times until I got the information I needed.”

When Kamil had a better idea of what kind of microscope he needed he started to message fellow micro and macro photographers and scientists from around the world on Instagram about the type of equipment they use. Everyone he reached out to replied with tips and advice. “I realised that the equipment I needed was far above my budget. At that time, it was still just a hobby for me, so I couldn’t spend thousands and thousands of euros on it. Also, if I had bought it outside of Europe I’d still have to add customs and shipping on top.” 

Video by Cosmodernism

Through some detours and months of searching, Kamil finally managed to contact a scientist in Poland who could help him. The scientist had just purchased a new microscope valued at the price of a decent car and he had a 30-year-old laboratory microscope to spare that had just undergone an upgrade with the best lenses available. “I was very lucky. It cost me only 25 % of the price that you can normally buy it for on eBay. It allowed me to take my macrophotography to the next level. I’m still very grateful for all the support I have received from the artists and scientists I contacted, that’s why until this day I always respond to messages on Instagram when people ask me about the equipment I use.”

 “The videos meant nothing without the sound design”

Since he started with Cosmodernism back in 2019, his creative process has gradually become more interdisciplinary and sound design has evolved into one of the most important pillars of his macro art. At first he used copyright-free music from the Internet or the tracks of music producer friends, but soon he realized that the audio needed to be custom-made for every video artwork. 

“I knew the videos meant nothing without the sound design, so I had the feeling that I should start learning about music production. For me, it was like jumping off a cliff. Since I was 13, I had only worked in visual arts. Luckily, I was surrounded by some amazing friends who are musicians and producers and who encouraged me to give it a try and assured me there is no risk of failure. I started to jam with them and gradually I got my first sound apps for iPad, my first instruments and then I received another life-changing gift from my friends–a loop station and a microphone. It’s all coming together right now and I even tend to spend more time on the sound design than on the videos.” In 2023 Kamil closed his tattoo studio to focus entirely on Cosmodernism. Today makes a living through collaborations for different clients, among them the European Space Agency. 

Video by Cosmodernism

Over the years, Kamil has become an art alchemist, skillfully blending chemistry, macro photography, light and sound design. Does he also use artificial intelligence in his creative practice? “I don't work with CGI or AI and many people perceive my work as anti-AI-art, but I don't agree with this, because I appreciate a lot of AI artworks. You can find so many amazing artists using the technology in very creative ways and it’s an amazing tool for abstract expression. I even feel that if I wouldn’t have discovered my visual language through microscopy, today I would be working with AI. Because when you think about it, the principle is quite similar, it’s all generative art. But instead of programming I use chemicals.”


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