Moiré Index

The beauty of interferences presented as a book and on an included CD. In this book, Carsten Nicolai explores the moiré effect—a phenomenon that can be created by the overlay of lines. Although such interference patterns are mostly considered to be unwanted side effects, they are actually extremely interesting from an aesthetic perspective. This first extensive visual compendium of these patterns is accompanied by a CD that contains not only the featured moirés as digital files, but also individual elements that can be used to create an almost endless amount of new overlays. By analyzing and systematically unlocking these fundamental structures of crucial importance to the visualization of data, Nicolai has again produced not only a work of art, but also a practical tool for anyone working creatively.

In Grid Index, Carsten Nicolai created a visual lexicon of patterns and grid systems. Now Moiré Index is dedicated to his exploration of the moiré effect—a phenomenon that can be created by the overlay of lines. Although such interference patterns are mostly considered to be unwanted side effects, they are actually extremely interesting from an aesthetic perspective.

Based upon years of research, Nicolai has analyzed and systematically unlocked fundamental structures of crucial importance to the visualization of data. As the first extensive visual compendium of these interference patterns, Moiré Index is the definitive reference book for designers, visual artists, architects, researchers, mathematicians, or anyone else who wants to use its content as a basis for graphic designs. A CD accompanies the book and contains not only the featured moirés as digital files, but also individual elements that can be used to create an almost endless amount of new overlays. These files can be used effortlessly with virtually any platform, operating system, and graphics software and can be applied in every field of visual culture.

One of Germany’s most renowned contemporary artists, Nicolai has been working at the intersection of art and science since the early 1990s. With Moiré Index he has again produced not only a work of art, but also a practical tool for anyone working creatively.