Permutations (1968)
John Whitney
16mm film, color, sound, 8 minutes

Unpublished work copyright 1968, John Whitney
Restoration copyright 2018, Whitney Editions, LLC

Abstract computer animation consisting of kinetic complexes of ever-changing patterns of dots.

"In Permutations, each point moves at a different speed and moves in a direction independent according to natural laws' quite as valid as those of Pythagoras, while moving in their circular field. Their action produces a phenomenon more or less equivalent to the musical harmonies. When the points reach certain relationships (harmonic) numerical to other parameters of the equation, they form elementary figures." - John Whitney

Music: Balachandra

Restored by the Academy Film Archive

Image courtesy of Whitney Editions, Los Angeles, CA