While working with some clear packaging tape on a project, I noticed some interesting visual effects that happened when looking at a dithered or half-toned picture through a piece of the tape. The distorted pattern would dance or flow as I moved the tape back and forth.

I laser-printed a selection of dither patterns and other patterns and found that the effect was most striking with fine parallel lines, and that the apparent direction and intensity of the flowing motion varied with the angle between the printed lines and the tape. I was seeing Moiré patterns caused by striations in the tape plastic refracting the light from beneath.

So I did what anyone would in this situation: After a few more experiments to determine the best line widths and spacing, I created a paper mosaic from about five or six thousand tiny patterned paper tiles, positioning each tile to try to exploit the Moiré effect in a manner appropriate to that part of the overall image.

Then I mounted the mosaic inside a shadowbox in which I had covered the glass completely with strips of this particular packaging tape. As you move back and forth in front of the work, it appears to shimmer and flow.

At right you can see this piece, and if you select the second thumbnail below, you can see an enlarged section of the paper mosaic by itself. Then check out the video to get a sense of how this artwork looks up close in person.