YAKAZA's ethno-futuristic patterns seek to define an identity for humans in the digital realm

‘tribal transmorph’ explores whether the algorithm of the humanoid appearance can be defined through a series of meta-morphogenetic fabric patterns that vary on three different continents, south america, south africa, and east asia. created by artist kerim dundar’s YAKAZA, which he describes as an ethno-futuristic cult(ure) of the new ages tribe, the patterns emerge as paradigms of digital nature, for a time when human endeavor will succeed the role of mother-nature.

all images courtesy of YAKAZA

‘this project seeks answers to questions of whether nature designed human skin with the same method it used for the skin patterns of many living things,’ explains YAKAZA‘s founder, kerim dundar, ‘and if those patterns diversify by geographic and ethnic conditions, what kind of results may we encounter?’ tribal transmorph borrows methods from nature, such as biomimicry to portrait an ethno-futuristic and diverse visual culture for human beings that seek an identity for their presence in the digital realm. ‘the tribal expression of the project puts the human’s hunter-gatherer status at the beginning of the evolutionary process in its new nature,’ notes dundar. combining the reaction-diffusion algorithm found in many reactions in nature, with an art-directed process, various patterns emerge that reflect the ethnic diversity of the three chosen continents.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: sofia lekka angelopoulou | designboom