COVID19 / TOGETHER is a generative motion typography capturing the binary between the current fear of the COVID-19 virus against the healing power of working together. It alternates between COVID19, wherein particles travel outwards in a menacing way, and TOGETHER, whose particles neutralize the black stain of COVID19. By pressing the mouse, the audience can change the color of the COVID19 particles to red, and the TOGETHER particles to a range of green.

Artist Statement:
The original concept for COVID19 / TOGETHER was the binary between FEAR and HOPE, but as the coronavirus pandemic has overtaken our lives as global citizens, I took an angle to directly address COVID19 and provide hope in this dark time.
In COVID19 mode, this work reflects the slow dreadful spread of the coronavirus all around the world. From its epicenter, the virus has extended its claws to even the most remote places, inflicting death and upturning economies. It is effectively a black stain that keeps growing, clouding our earlier white happiness.
TOGETHER, on the other hand, has white particles that spread quickly outward, reflecting the swift action people in healthcare, industry, and individuals at home have taken to save lives and prevent the pandemic from spreading. Even though we may be apart from strangers and loved ones, we are effectively working together to save the lives of those in our communities and around the world.
By incorporating user input through the mouse, I also wanted to replicate the concept that we as individuals have direct influence over whether this pandemic leads to more deaths (blood red) or leads to hope and renewal (green). It is up to us to work together by staying home and using safe practices to protect others and ourselves.

Description:
COVID19 / TOGETHER is a generative motion typography capturing the binary between the current fear of the COVID-19 virus against the healing power of working together. It alternates between COVID19, wherein particles travel outwards in a menacing way, and TOGETHER, whose particles neutralize the black stain of COVID19. By pressing the mouse, the audience can change the color of the COVID19 particles to red, and the TOGETHER particles to a range of green.

Technology:
This work was created in Processing, a programming language and development library created by Casey Reas and Ben Fry. Particles framing the letters are created using the Geomerative Library in Processing. Fonts used are “Downcome” by Misprinted Type and “Bebas” by Ryoichi Tsunekawa at Fontfabric Type Foundry. It uses frame-by-frame particle movement and mouse interaction.

Published as a 2020 news story by the UW-Madison School of Education: https://education.wisc.edu/news/raczek-presents-covid19-together-utilizing-generative-motion-typography/