WHAT IS MANDELBULB 3D?
When we think about digital art software, our minds may imagine programs where like a painter to a canvas, artists are able to bring ideas to life limited only by their imagination.
Fractal art is unique in that scenes are not created, but rather discovered. Mandelbulb 3D is an open-source fractal visualization software that allows artists like Julius to ‘drive’ a camera through landscapes hidden within the mathematical formulas of a Mandelbulb fractal. As you uncover an area you’d like to capture, you then have the option to capture a still image, or a video fly-through, as seen in Fractal Worlds.
Fractals display infinite detail, meaning that no matter how much you zoom in, you’ll keep discovering new patterns and details. This characteristic makes fractals infinitely complex, and is why observing fractal art can often be described as meditative, transcendent, and a revelation of hidden truths.
“There’s an infinite amount of different worlds that I could show. So it’s really choosing what to show, what not to show, in what light or what colors. That’s the creative process; much more like filmmaking or photography than it is then like sculpting or painting.”
– Julius Horsthuis
DOWNLOAD THE FREE SOFTWARE: Mandelbulb3D
Become a fractal artist using this open source tool! Mandelbulb3D can be downloaded for PC using this link below:
Mandelbulb Masterpieces
The below images are scenes within Fractal Worlds by Julius Horsthuis, currently on view at ARTECHOUSE Houston. The largest Fractal art series ever to be exhibited, Julius’ work demonstrated the beauty and limitless capabilities with the software.
LATTICE originated from a purely technical exploration: an algorithm MHX developed that, when given a mathematical input, would generate a dense, web-like knit structure. This foundational system then evolved into a deeper, more conceptual piece.
By working with procedural system Houdini, he merged the algorithmic structure with a human head figure, a fusion that ultimately came to symbolize the breakdown and reintroduction of a person’s self-perception. The result is a work that is both a technical marvel and a philosophical meditation on identity in the digital age.
“I have always been inspired by real-life data-driven generative artworks from great artists like Refik Anadol.
– MHX
Accessing large amounts of meaningful data is not always as straightforward as one might think, since many great datasets are not publicly available. “
About the Artist
MHX
Muhammet Altun, known as Mhx, is a self-taught visual artist and generalist based in Istanbul. His work focuses on 3D generative art and experimental motion design, constructed through procedural systems and simulations. By fusing algorithmic processes with aesthetic storytelling, Mhx creates works that balance fragility with emergence, precision with play.
Woosung Kang’s work is rooted in a unique process: listening to music and imagining the visuals, which he then brings to life using 3D software. This show is a testament to that style, where light and motion respond organically to sound, drawing the audience into a state of deep immersion.
The foundational music was composed by Woosung himself, using it to sculpt the entire visual structure. The most intriguing layer, however, is the incorporation of his past works, repurposed as interstellar DJ set visuals. Spotted on scrapped televisions and monitors, this blending of old and new elements, synchronized with the sound, led to “new and unexpected happy accidents” throughout the creative process.
“ARTECHOUSE is such an amazing place where you can look at the audience’s reaction in immersive space; people are just filming, dancing and taking pictures, and watching their reaction is a truly unique experience that I can’t get out of 2D monitors.”
– Woosung Kang
About the Artist
Woosung Kang
Woosung Kang is an art director and motion designer based in L.A.. Inspired by music, he crafts impactful visuals across mediums. His work includes visualizers and stage visuals for ODESZA and an Emmy-nominated title sequence for True Detective. Kang is expanding into XR, exploring how immersive content can merge sound, memory, and design into new forms of digital performance.
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WHAT ARE FRACTALS?
Fractals are one of the most fascinating and ubiquitous concepts in mathematics and the natural world. Essentially, a fractal is a complex pattern that is self-similar, meaning it looks approximately the same at any scale. If you zoom in on a part of a fractal, it will look like the whole thing, just smaller. This property is known as scale invariance.
SPOTTING A FRACTAL
The key to spotting fractals is in its self-similarity. This is the defining feature. The structure is composed of smaller copies of itself. Take broccoli, for example. The entire head is made up of smaller florets, which each maintain the same structure as the larger head.
Once you know what to look for, you’ll start seeing fractals everywhere—in nature, art, and technology. They represent a fundamental geometry of chaos and complexity.
TYPES OF FRACTALS
Fractals aren’t just one single shape; they come in a few fundamental varieties based on how their self-similarity is generated:
Geometric Fractals (Iterated Function Systems – IFS)
These are the most visually recognizable and “perfectly” self-similar fractals. They’re built through a process of iteration, where a simple rule is repeatedly applied to a starting shape.
Algebraic or Escape-Time Fractals
These are generated by plugging coordinates into a single, simple mathematical equation and seeing what happens after many repetitions (iterations). The color of each point on the resulting image depends on how fast the numbers “escape” to infinity. Algebraic Fractals are the structures artist Julius Horsthuis explores in Fractal Worlds, currently on view at ARTECHOUSE Houston.
Random/Natural Fractals
These describe the complex, chaotic structures found in the real world. Unlike the previous two types, they are not perfectly mathematical but display statistical self-similarity—meaning the smaller parts look statistically similar to the whole.
Examples: Coastlines, clouds 
, lightning strikes, mountains, the branching of trees 
, and the structure of broccoli.
Fly through Fractals
The browser tool below lets you explore the Mandelbrot fractal set.
How it works:
- Click and drag your mouse to zoom into the fractal set
- Scroll down on the window to “reset” and play around more or “capture” your fractal creation!
FRACTAL WORLDS
WALK THROUGH FRACTALS
AT ARTECHOUSE Houston
Fractal Worlds by Julius Horsthuis is the largest fractal art exhibition ever. Across 26,000 square feet and dozens of installations, the exhibition takes you on an educational, interactive, and inspirational journey through fractals.
Over the course of your visit, you’ll learn about different types of fractals, manipulate them yourselves, and experience the potential of fractal art through the immersive cinematic centerpiece Geometric Properties.
The artists began the project without much resources, “just conviction and the skills to make about a minute of animation.” Rather than releasing the clip in isolation, Maciej and Emily engineered a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ mechanic where, using digital currency, users voted what direction they wanted the story to take.
These decisions were more than opinions. Viewers were turned into not just fans, but active producers, directly connected to the development of the story in real-time.
As each chapter was released, fans voted, waiting months for the next installation as the story developed in real-time.
This innovative participatory model allowed the artists to allocate the tokens staked to actual production costs, facilitating the creative process without the reliance on a big studio.
“White Rabbit began as a proof of concept — not just for a film, but for a new way of creating…Three years later, we have a fully crowdfunded, grassroots film that never would’ve existed if we’d gone the traditional route.”
– Emily Yang (pplpleasr) + Maciej Kuciara
Maciej Kuciara >
Maciej Kuciara is a Polish artist and director whose two decades in visual storytelling span concept art, animation, and world-building for The Last of Us, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and more. He co-directed White Rabbit, an Emmy award-winning anime, as well as films such as MECHA and Linkin Park’s “Lost”.
Emily Yang> (pplpleasr)
Emily Yang, professionally known as pplpleasr, is a multidisciplinary artist and technologist whose work bridges anime, video games, and traditional Asian art. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Yang co-directed the Emmy award-winning anime, White Rabbit, and has collaborated with the likes of Kering, Sotheby’s, Steve Aoki, and Vogue.
