Canvas: A Site-Specific Digital Installation in Chicago

A permanent digital installation titled Canvas has been installed in the lobby of 515 North State Street, the iconic skyscraper designed by Kenzo Tange in the 1990s. Created by ESI design under the direction of Ed Purver, the work features a screen over seven meters tall that generates real-time images inspired by Impressionist and abstract painting. Footage from 16 locations in Chicago's River North neighborhood is transformed by custom software into hypnotic color flows, producing over five thousand different compositions from just five hours of video. The software analyzes movement in the videos—such as people walking or cars passing—and converts them into 'brushes' that slowly create entirely abstract images. As the videos intersect, new compositions emerge in real time, offering thousands of possibilities for this ever-evolving digital artwork. Visible from the street, Canvas merges the daily motion of the city with digital painting.