Advanced IxD – ferrofluid in motion

Semester Project Aija & Dennis

Amazed by the reaction of magnets and ferrofluids in water, we set out to explore its visual features in motion.

The goal: Create a generative art display using electromagnets.

BUY A GLASS BOTTLE WITH STRAIGHT WALLS.

(The size of the bottle depends on how big you want the installation to be).

• Don’t buy a plastic bottle – ferrofluid will smear the walls
• Do buy a cheap, transparent liquor bottle – alcohol will prevent ferrofluid staining

MAKE OR BUY YOUR FERROFLUID.

• If you choose to make your own ferrofluid make sure that the printer ink is magnetic
• Use mask to protect your mouth and nose while working with ink to protect your body from diseases
• Use vegetable oil only
• Have fun making it!

FILL THE GLASS BOTTLE WITH TAP WATER UNTIL THE VERY TOP AND DRIP FERROFLUID DROPS IN THE BOTTLE.

• Before closing the bottle make sure the water reaches the very top of the bottle, to avoid air bubbles in the bottle
• Close the bottle good, you may even tape it

TEST YOUR FERROFLUID.

• Play with the quantities of magnets – see what happens using just one magnet and using all your magnets at once
• Experiment with the distance between ferrofluid and magnet
• Don’t use two separate magnets to divide ferrofluid, it destroys the ferrofluid’s qualities and is harder to unite the pieces together

ORDER ARDUINO & OTHER COMPONENTS.

• Don’t buy expensive devices, order them from China and save your money