cassini/zycles, 2010

This edition highlights Thomas Ruff’s engagement with scientific imagery and mathematical abstraction. The first work, from his cassini series, is based on photographs of Saturn and its moons taken by NASA’s Cassini space probe. By digitally reworking the original files – altering color and scale – Ruff enhances their abstract qualities, transforming raw scientific data into contemplative, otherworldly compositions. The other two works belong to zycles, a series inspired by 19th-century illustrations of electromagnetic fields. Using a 3D modeling program and mathematical cycloid curves, Ruff generates intricate line structures in virtual space. These compositions, while mathematically precise, evoke organic and poetic forms – suggesting planetary orbits, musical vibrations, or minimalist drawings. Together, the three prints bridge science and art, turning data and formulae into visually rich, conceptually layered images.