Tom Milnes

Invisible Cities is an interactive work that mimics the cycles of cellular overreaction known as ‘cytokine storms’ as a comment on climate change, and is reminiscent of the micro and macro duality of ecological impacts – seeming as vast as a galaxy and yet miniscule. Named after Italo Calvino’s novella, Invisible Cities is a sinking but living world that creates and destroys much like the cells of the immune system. Objects are morphing and decaying in a piece that confronts the viewer on the fragile biological impacts of climate change through a virtual world. The project sees scans of 3D urban environments – buildings warping and morphing in virtual 3D. Created in three.js, an online 3D library, the viewers can move through and see the ecological impact of media and biology intertwined.

Artist

Tom Milnes is an artist, curator and AHRC Ph.D. researcher at Falmouth University. He is a Lecturer in Fine Art at Plymouth College of Art. Milnes’ research practice explores the materiality of technology, engaging with the cultural impact of 3D imaging media through glitch practice and Media Archaeology. His Ph.D research concentrates on the materiality of the post-photographic; exposed through glitch practices in 3D photogrammetry and online cultures. Milnes has recently published research papers with the Journal of Artistic Research and Visual Resources. Milnes has exhibited internationally including at: W139 – Amsterdam , AND/OR – London, The Centre for Contemporary Art Laznia – Gdansk, and Gyeonggi International CeraMIX Biennale – Korea. Milnes has recently exhibited at FORMAT International Photography Festival 2021. He is the curator and founder of the online platform Digital Artist Residency.