The Pillars & Lights
By Jacob Samano / Scantuary (2026)
Medium: Digital Net Art / Generative Assemblage
(Barcode Vector, Freeform Digital Media, Animated
GIF, Filter Effects)
Classification: Primary Portfolio Artwork #001 /
Digital Manifesto
Sep 25, 2026
ARTIST STATEMENT
This piece is a declaration—the planting of my flag as an artist on the web, and an ode to the GIF.
To many, this logo is simple. I chose simplicity deliberately so it remains universal: something anyone can look at and immediately understand. At its core, the piece originates as a standard barcode encoding the URL Scantuary.art. To me, the black-and-white bars stand like tall pillars of data. The multicolor scanner line represents various lights shining through those pillars—a visual search trying to decode and translate cold information so we can see beyond the basic, discard the normal, and reveal what data holds when exposed to different conditions, filters, and light.
GIFs are often overlooked, yet they hold incredible depth—still images brought to life. They can conceal entire movies, secret love letters, hidden messages, and bridge the gap between dimensions. This artwork documents the trial-and-error journey of taking flat 2D lines, bringing them into 3D space, and returning them back to 2D animation. It is a story of transformation, a homage to the infinite potential of digital movement, and the official mark of my identity.
Stage 01: The Data (URL to Barcode)
The foundational pillar. The raw, functional URL Scantuary.art is translated into a machine-readable black-and-white barcode grid.
Stage 02: The Light (Pencil Line & Prism Search)
Human intervention. A pencil line rainbow scanner is introduced—visualizing the system's indecision as it searches for the precise color required to decode the underlying URL.
Stage 03: The Dimensional Motion (Shine, Gradient & Motion via EZGIF)
The shift into depth and movement. Using software processing and GIF manipulation, the scanner light is animated with light-sway gradients and reflective shine, bridging the gap between 2D structure and 3D presence.
Stage 04: The Environment (Weather Effects & Atmospheric Distortion)
The final atmosphere. Applied lens filters and weather conditions obscure and refract the light, placing the animated mark under changing digital conditions.
