Mardini 2025

Mardini is SideFX’s annual month-long Houdini challenge that brings together artists from around the world to create and share daily procedural art. Throughout March, participants respond to a new prompt each day, pushing their creativity, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities using Houdini. The challenge is a celebration of experimentation, learning, and community, offering a unique opportunity to explore new workflows while competing alongside some of the industry's most talented artists.

Close-up of a wooden toy train with a simple, rounded design, on a wooden surface, with warm, soft lighting.
Close-up of a brick building wall with two circular windows and a metal door with the number 44, a small window, and some electrical wiring, along with a trash can on the right side.
Close-up macro photo of a green plant stem covered with tiny purple and white structures, possibly trichomes or glandular hairs, on a dark background.
A scoop of ice cream topped with pink and purple worms in a cone with a pink background and confetti.
Five stacked smooth stones on sandy beach with water and cloudy sky in the background.
A close-up image of a modern, abstract wooden sculpture with smooth, curved, flowing lines and a natural wood finish against a plain gray background.
Close-up of soft, peach-colored, twisted twisted yarn strands arranged in a woven pattern
Mosaic tiles in a subway tunnel with London Underground 'Oyster' sign and red circle logos, along with 'Oxford Circus' station labels repeatedly on the wall.
Close-up of colorful candy-coated almonds arranged in rows
A 3D modeling software interface displaying a colorful digital model of a toy train made of geometric shapes.
Screenshot of 3D modeling software interface showing a colorful 3D architectural model with wireframe and shaded views, including various panels with node graphs, color settings, and asset libraries.
A 3D modeling software interface displaying a digital model of a plant stem with a wireframe overlay, surrounded by particle effects resembling dust or pollen, in a neutral-colored workspace.
A 3D digital model of a cactus on a grid, displayed in a 3D software interface. The cactus has multiple arms and a metallic surface. The interface shows various tools and panels for editing the model.
A 3D rendering software interface displaying a textured material with a cracked, stone-like pattern in black and white.
A computer screen displaying 3D modeling software with a digital model of an ice cream cone with colorful scoops and a curved pink candy or tube on top. Various tools and a node-based editing interface are visible.
A 3D computer model of a virus particle with a red core and purple protein spikes, displayed in a 3D modeling software interface.
A 3D modeling software interface showing a scene with colorful, flat, elliptical shapes stacked in a balanced formation on a textured ground surface.
Screenshot of a 3D modeling software interface showing a wooden sculpture and a wood texture material setup.
Screenshot of a 3D rendering software interface showing a 3D model of a small animal, possibly a rodent, with textures and a red outline highlighting its head, inside a workspace with various controls, panels, and visual nodes.
A 3D rendering software interface displaying a detailed woven textile pattern with a node-based shading network on the right side.
A 3D modeling software interface showing a wall with textured tiles, featuring contrasting white and blue sections, and a node-based material graph on the right side.