The Shape of Things Unseen
Infinite stretch, lines drawn,
Planes, cubes, beyond sight's reach,
Worlds unseen, time’s weave.
When I get overwhelmed, my mind’s theatre goes on interesting journeys. I dissociate. I day dream. I zone out. But my mind, still overwhelmed, continues it’s quest to resolve whatever it is that is overwhelming.
For some reason, my mind is currently fixated on higher-dimensional geometry. So, as a bit of therapy, I asked ChatGPT to draw some of the shapes that were spinning around in my mind. They turned out rather well, so I’m sharing them with you here.
Tesseract (Hypercube)
Prompt: create an image of a tesseract, a four-dimensional geometric shape, visually approximated in three dimensions. The image should depict the complex structure of a tesseract, showcasing its unique geometry and the way it might look if projected into three-dimensional space, with lines indicating the connections between its vertices and faces, and shading to enhance its three-dimensional appearance.
Hyperoctahedron (24-cell)
Prompt: create an image representing a Hyperoctahedron (24-cell), a unique four-dimensional geometric shape, visually approximated in three dimensions. The image should illustrate its complex structure, emphasising the symmetry and connectivity between its vertices and faces. Highlight the geometric beauty of the Hyperoctahedron through artistic shading and perspective to give a sense of depth and three-dimensionality
.
Hyperdodecahedron (120-cell)
Prompt: create an image representing a Hyperdodecahedron (120-cell), a complex four-dimensional geometric shape, visually approximated in three dimensions. The image should illustrate the intricate structure of the 120-cell, highlighting its symmetry and the connectivity between its vertices, edges, and dodecahedral faces. Use artistic shading and perspective to enhance the three-dimensional appearance, giving a sense of the geometric beauty and complexity of this unique shape.
Hypericosahedron (600-cell)
Prompt: create an image representing a Hypericosahedron (600-cell), a highly complex four-dimensional geometric shape, visually approximated in three dimensions. The image should capture the intricate structure of the 600-cell, emphasising its symmetry and the connectivity between its vertices, edges, and tetrahedral faces. Employ artistic shading and perspective to highlight the three-dimensional appearance, conveying the geometric elegance and complexity of this unique shape.
4D Motion
Prompt: Visualise a tesseract, a four-dimensional hypercube, undergoing a rotation that involves the fourth dimension (W axis), projected into three dimensions. The image should depict the tesseract at a moment of its rotation where the complex interactions of its vertices, edges, and faces are evident, showcasing the dynamic change and distortion typical of a 4D rotation. Highlight the transformation and movement through artistic shading and perspective, creating a visual that captures the essence of moving through an unseen dimension.
Tesseract spins, veiled,
Through unseen dimensions glide,
Mystery unfolds.