FAQ
- What are the names of all fractals shown in the exhibition?
All fractals are different fragments of one and the same fractal,
called Mandelbrot set. Each fragment is at specific location and specific
depth. Click here for a map.
- What is the maximum depth of the fractal?
Although the fractal completely fits in a cirlce with radius 2, its
depth is infinite. However, in this exhibition the maximum reached depth
is around 1013. The currently used mathematical
libraries does not allow accurate calculations at higher depths.
- What is actually shown in each picture?
A computer-generated fractal and its artistic interpretation,
which is done by blending it with a digital photogrpah.
Except for these two images each
picture contains a dozen of other elements.
- How much does it take to produce one fractal?
It depends on too many factors (from the calculation algorithm to the
processor power). Some of the deapest fractals in this exhibition are
generated for almost 3 days, while the calculation of some of the small
fractals takes less than a second.
- What materials are used for the print-outs?
Each poster is digitally printed on Fuji photo paper (matte), then
"stamped" on 10mm Foam-X pad and framed in aluminum. The sizes are
90cm/56cm (approximately 35.4"/22") at 300 dpi. The orginal files
are 10630x6614 pixels, which correponds do 67 MP (mega-pixels).
- What parts of the artistic images are real and what are computer generated?
The artistic images combine tree types of resources: (i)
digital photographs like the Moon in Moonset;
(ii) computer-generated images like the cream spiral in
Coffee; and (iii) totally
imaginary elements created digitally from scratch like the puzzle
blocks in Puzzle.
- I want to order some of the pictures. How much do they cost?
The pictures are not for sale. The full-size posters exist as single copies
and are exhibited in Bulgaria (details). There is
also one postcard-size print-out in a private collection in Australia.
- I really, really want to buy some of the posters?
The posters are not for sale, because this is the initial arrangement with
the artists that have agreed to provide their own potographs as contributions.
However, individual fractal images are not bound to this restriction.
Developing custom fractals is also available.
- Would it be possible to see just one fractal in full resolution?
OK. Here is the fractal from Time in its
full glory. Be warned, that the image is
6001x6001 pixels compressed into 18MB JPEG file.
- What program did you use to generate the fractals? Can I use it and make
my own images?
All the fractals in the exhibition are generated with
Lhogho - a free,
open source Logo compiler.
And most definitely you are free to use the program and make your own fractals.
Alternatively you can use any of the many available on the web fractal generators.
- Did you do the exhibition by yourself?
The answer is both "yes" and "no". Yes, all the computer image generation
and artistic work is entirely done by Pavel Boytchev, however, without the
help of other people
and institutions it would not be possible to finish the exhibition. Special
thanks to all the people that provided photographic, editorial, financial,
technical and moral support, namely, to Annette Olson, Daisuke Tomiyasu,
Elfi Berndl, Jon Sullivan, John French, Nicholas Gere and Simon Tong for
their nice photographs; to Louise Blyton and Svetla Boytcheva for editing
the texts; to Magdalina Todorova, Bojidar Sendov, Dimitar Dobrev and the
GURBAKI team at FMI/BAS for the encouragement; and to my daughter for her
constructive and critical comments. Printing was supported by Sofia University.
- Is there any way to contact you?
Yes, use our guestbook
or e-mail us at
mandelbrot-set{@}elica.net.