The digital marble sculptures designed by Uncharted Limbo are part of the 'PvNP' project, a unique collection of procedural sculptures led by electronic music producer Max Cooper, in collaboration with creative coders Jessica In and Illust.Space.

In an era heavily influenced by algorithms shaping data security, the RSA algorithm plays a pivotal role in protecting personal data, enabling secure communications, and fortifying global financial systems. Intriguingly linked to the unsolved P vs NP problem, this algorithm hints at the potential to uncover concealed insights by bridging secure barriers. The exceptional functionality of the RSA algorithm comes from its capacity to scramble (encrypt) and unscramble (decrypt) messages using two provably unique keys via quick computational processes, so that one key can be made public and used to encrypt a message, while the other is only known to one party who receives the message.

The 'PVNP' sculptures emerged as a tangible outcome of this exploration, offering a visual narrative of the intricate interplay between encryption and decryption within the RSA algorithm. Through these sculptures, complex mathematical processes were translated into tangible spatial forms, unraveling the inner workings and enhancing understanding.

The initial trio of sculptures was presented at the Athens Conservatoire in November 2022. Their form and materiality was inspired by the architecture of the emblematic Athens Conservatoire building, areas of which were meticulously 3d-scanned by Uncharted Limbo and infused into the sculptures.

Our contribution revolves around the concept of volumetric modeling, wherein 3D meshes are approached not as mere shells, but as solid entities replete with internal folds, crevices, and intricate structures. Our procedural generation algorithm for crafting volumetric shapes is succeeded by a recursive process of "slicing & dicing." This sequence yields a nested hierarchy of volumetric subdivisions stemming from the initial geometry. At the heart of our technique lies a significantly large integer, dictating localized rotations across all diced elements and subdivision tiers. Through the RSA algorithm, this integer is encrypted, producing a new numerical value. When this value is applied to the hierarchy of diced components, the result is a wholly rearranged 3D model. The extent of complexity escalates exponentially with each tier of subdivision, rendering the reversal of the 3D mesh to its original form an increasingly formidable challenge, unless one possesses the public and private keys to decrypt it.