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Hello I'm Danny

I'm a Digital Media Artist
About Me
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Based in the Bay Area, Danny Dao is a digital media artist who has a creative approach to the technical and artistic aspects of crafting visuals and imagery. His work spans from generative art to audiovisual effects and projection mapping. Originally a choreography dancer since 2014, Danny's passion for music has blended his musicality with innovative visuals through time and space. With a good eye for immersive and interactive environments, his art bridges the gap between the common issues found in everyday life and what it takes to get through them by incorporating reality, dreams and technology together.

While attending San Jose State University, Danny has collaborated with the CADRE Student Organization as vice president to provide opportunities for creative exploration, learning and collaboration among Digital Media Art artists and enthusiasts.

Artist Statement

My work is deeply rooted in the power of self-relfection, where I believe that every experience and every element of the world has something valuable to offer. Each piece of my work tells a unique story, drawn from my past and present experiences, and serves as a testament to the lessons I have learned over time.

Collaboration is central to my creative process. I believe that true growth comes not just from honing technical skills, but rather from the exchange of stories, ideas, and different perspectives. Through working with others, I have gained a deeper understanding of the world and its diverse narratives -- because it is impossible to truly know someone without first learning their story.

I explore the intersection between the tangible and the digital, using a mix of materials and software to bridge the gap between reality and the realm of dreams. This fusion allows me to highlight the parallels between the physical world and the fantastical spaces of my imagination.

My creative processs often beings with an image or idea that materializes in my mind, which I then bring to life through a sketch or writing on a blank canvas. From there, these initial thoughts are transformed and visualized within digital realms, allowing me to communicate my vision in away that resonates with others. These interactive experiences in alternate dimensions often provide the clarity and direction I seek in my art practice.

Projects
screenshot of singularity

Singularity

P5js Adobe Premiere Pro Oct 2023

Singularity is an audiovisual spectacle made with the concept of pushing the concepts of algorithms to create a video that pertains to the human senses of sight and sound. While working on this piece, I was interested in the idea behind black holes and how we as humans get sucked into the idea of passion. This piece is a representation of my start into the world of digital media. The Singularity draws you in, and asks you to think of the bigger picture.

Audio made by Nate Rza

References

P5js: Brownian Motion
P5js: Parametric Equations
P5js: Penrose Tiles

Screenshot of Design Poster

Poster Within A Poster

Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator December 2021

The Poster Within A Poster is a replication and admiration for graphic designer, Neville Brody. This poster recreates the themes of punk rock, dadaism, and pop art; themes of which Neville Brody were influenced by. I wanted to make a poster that would put Neville Brody out in the limelight. In a world where graphic design is becoming more prominent, this poster changes the population's perspective of advertisement. Instead of advertising a product or corporation, this poster strives to advertise a person of significant importance or better yet, the person behind the job.

Screenshot of Perspective

Perspective

Blender THREEjs April 2024

"The only thing granted equally to all is an unfair reality." A quote taken from a character from Jujutsu Kaisen whose sister was unfairly cursed despite virtually being a good person. At that time of my life, I watched a close friend struggle as she fell into a state of misery and depression. Our perspectives were polar opposites. I would often talk about my accomplishments while she would often talk about her struggles. For her, she was blinded by failure and often told by others that she was not good enough. My inspiration for this piece came from countless hard months of hard conversations and questions to myself. Are our paths different because of our circumstances or is it because of something deeper than that? When are we able to understand each other? This piece uncovers the perspectives of two very different people, one that sees everything, the endless possibilites, and the other who sees very little.

Screenshot of Bubble Pop: Picnic On Saturn

Bubble Pop: Picnic On Saturn

ShaderPark THREEjs May 2024

Welcome to Saturn, a planet filled with unknown possibilities. Bubble Pop: Picnic On Saturn is set in a 3D environment with interactivity to enable motion and control inside the space. The title of the piece is split into two different names. Picnic on Saturn is a song produced by a good friend of mine which is currently in development. When asked about the song, Nate mentioned that, "The goal was to create a song that would emulate the idea of what it would be like to have a picnic on Saturn." I pushed this concept further by incorporating a story of the alien lifeform known as Bubble Pop. When combining the two different worlds between music and art, a story is told through visual and audio immersion creating an environment only possible through net art.

Audio made by Nate Rza

Screenshot of Leftovers

Leftovers

Blender February 2024

While scrambling through an old high school backpack, I came across random items that I had not cleaned out. This is a representation of some of the most important memories I had from my childhood.

Screenshot of Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect

Adobe Illustrator Adobe After Effects October 2024

I often think that thought process often resembles most like a butterfly. My ability to change and evolve as a person in order to understand the world better has allowed me the sense of liberation and the ability to let go of burdens. This piece is a reminder to pursue happiness because one life is all we have.

Screenshot of Lightbox

Lightbox Project

Laser Cutting Adobe Illustrator Digital Fabrication November 2023

A night to remember... A collaborative project done with members from the CADRE Student Organization. This project was drawn as a sketch and then implemented through Adobe Illustrator as a layered vector illustration. It was then printed through laser cutting and then implemented into a digital fabricated box with LED lights.

Sketch by Jade Augustin

Digital Sketch by Ky Han Ly

Screenshot of CADRE S.O. At Subzero Festival

CADRE S.O. At Subzero Festival

Exhibition June 2024

CADRE S.O. presents Fever Dream and Bubble Pop: Picnic on Saturn at Subzero Festival. The exhibition presents two highly interactive projects on the two day weekend. Both projects were exhibited through projection mapping and interaction through a MIDI keyboard and the Xbox Kinect.

Fever Dream by Nhat Minh Le

Bubble Pop: Picnic On Saturn by Danny Dao

Poster Design by Ky Han Ly

Screenshot of The Blot Room

CADRE S.O. Presents The Blot Room

Exhibition October 2024

The CADRE Student Organization and the CADRE Laboratory for New Digital Media have worked together to prepare an exhibition for Maker Faire 2024 in Vallejo, California. Brought to you by CADRE S.O. President, John Joseph Santos, CADRE S.O. Vice President, Danny Dao, and DMA Faculty, Steve Durie, the exhibition provides a variety of projects ranging form video game arcade prototypes presented by The Game Development Club at SJSU, the Lightbox Collection and other works.

Poster Design by Ky Han Ly

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