Advanced IxD - ferrofluid in motion

Dennis Josek and Aija Bane

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.

STEP 1
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

STEP 2
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!

STEP 3
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

STEP 5
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

STEP 6
ORDER ARDUINO & OTHER COMPONENTS.
Don’t buy expensive devices, order them from China and save your money