"Spring Scene": Generative Calligraphy with Rust & TouchDesigner

Ancient ink meets modern compute shaders: A digital interpretation of Zhu Xi’s calligraphy using wgpu, Bevy, and TouchDesigner. What happens when ancient philosophy meets modern graphics programming? In this experiment, I explore the unity of visual effects and meaning through Chinese calligraphy, bringing Zhu Xi’s “Spring Scene” to life using the power of Rust and node-based compositing.

The calligraphy features a famous line from the Song Dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi (朱熹):

“等闲识得东风面，万紫千红总是春。” “It is easy to make out vernal looks — All the purples and reds is the spring scene.”

This poem celebrates the arrival of spring, where the “East Wind” reveals a vibrant world of color. The visual effects in this video aren’t just overlaid; they are mathematically entwined with the brushstrokes, symbolizing how the essence of spring permeates everything it touches.

For the developers and creative coders watching, this project uses a hybrid rendering pipeline:

– WGPU & Bevy (Rust): Used for the core logic and high-performance rendering. The particle systems and fluid dynamics driving the ink flow were accelerated using WGPU compute shaders within the Bevy engine’s ECS architecture.

– TouchDesigner: Handled the real-time compositing and final visual polish, allowing for rapid iteration on the “bloom” and color grading that gives the “purples and reds” their vibrant glow.

I’m interested in connecting with others working at the intersection of traditional art and systems programming.

– Rustaceans: How are you using wgpu for creative coding?

-TouchDesigner Pros: Any tips for integrating external render targets like this?

If you’re interested in the breakdown of the shader code or the Bevy plugin structure, let me know in the comments!

If you enjoyed this fusion of code and culture, please Like & Subscribe for more generative art breakdowns.