In Bangkok, every sunset feels like a contradiction. The sky glows with saturated reds and purples but the very particles that make it beautiful are also a sign of toxic air. That paradox became the starting point for this exploration.

The experiment looks at Mie scattering, the optical effect that occurs when light bounces off particles roughly the size of its wavelength. In Bangkok, PM2.5 pollutants sit right in that range. Mixed with humidity and sunlight, they create the city’s stunning but polluted gradients.

To capture this, we built a generative system in Processing. Using real-time data from the IQAir API, we could translate the air quality levels into shifting sunset gradients. Pixels and particle experiments pushed it further, simulating the heavy haze that hangs over the skyline.

The result is a living canvas: data turned into color, beauty born from toxicity. A visual reminder that what captivates the eye can also harm the body.