Proposal for culture (an interactive installation) I’ve been thinking about the different ways in which organisms can perceive their environment and adapt to it — capturing and responding to either images, air vibration, or smells, sounds, flavors, temperature, light, chemical signals or some combination thereof. Here a colony of 20 small cloth modules floats on a current of air and moves to sounds captured from the street right outside the exhibition space. A 6 foot by 6 foot sheet of back-lit translucent plexiglass acts as a petri dish of sorts (fig.01 on diagram sheet). The air blown by fans through openings on the plexi is the medium and the interference on this medium (air blockers fig.02) is the stimulus. This particular culture responds to the sound stimuli by performing synchronized movements. Aside from the constant floating motion, each module can move in 4 basic ways: left/right, front/back (please refer to motion test on DVD). There are 4 air blockers for each module. When an air blocker moves into the air flow at one side of the opening, the module will lean into that side (fig.03). Each of the 4 air blockers corresponds to a designated range of frequencies from the captured sound and is activated by motors. The fluttering modules perform a synchronized dance to the noises from the street. While the shape of the modules is inspired by the structure of microscopic algae, their behavior reflects some of my ongoing concerns with adaptability and perception. I bring into play my experience as an immigrant and how being exposed to a new culture has led me to explore different strategies for survival and afforded me new possibilities of adapting to my environment. cloth module prototype floating prototype showing fan assembly Culture: Biol. Cultivation of organisms in a nourishing medium. • thessia@yahoo.com • www.thessiamachado.com • www.vimeo.com/linksounds fig.01 20 modules on plexi sheet fig.02 opening on the plexi with fans and air blockers fig.03 air blocker in action motor motor fan fans lights thread cloth module each approx. 3 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/2" plexi plexi plexiglass 6' x 6' air blockers air blocker diagrams fig.01 20 modules on plexi sheet fig.02 opening on the plexi with fans and air blockers fig.03 air blocker in action motor motor fan fans lights thread cloth module each approx. 3 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/2" plexi plexi plexiglass 6' x 6' air blockers air blocker diagrams
Proposal for culture (an interactive installation) I’ve been thinking about the different ways in which organisms can perceive their environment and adapt to it — capturing and responding to either images, air vibration, or smells, sounds, flavors, temperature, light, chemical signals or some combination thereof. Here a colony of 20 small cloth modules floats on a current of air and moves to sounds captured from the street right outside the exhibition space. A 6 foot by 6 foot sheet of back-lit translucent plexiglass acts as a petri dish of sorts (fig.01 on diagram sheet). The air blown by fans through openings on the plexi is the medium and the interference on this medium (air blockers fig.02) is the stimulus. This particular culture responds to the sound stimuli by performing synchronized movements. Aside from the constant floating motion, each module can move in 4 basic ways: left/right, front/back (please refer to motion test on DVD). There are 4 air blockers for each module. When an air blocker moves into the air flow at one side of the opening, the module will lean into that side (fig.03). Each of the 4 air blockers corresponds to a designated range of frequencies from the captured sound and is activated by motors. The fluttering modules perform a synchronized dance to the noises from the street. While the shape of the modules is inspired by the structure of microscopic algae, their behavior reflects some of my ongoing concerns with adaptability and perception. I bring into play my experience as an immigrant and how being exposed to a new culture has led me to explore different strategies for survival and afforded me new possibilities of adapting to my environment. cloth module prototype floating prototype showing fan assembly Culture: Biol. Cultivation of organisms in a nourishing medium. • thessia@yahoo.com • www.thessiamachado.com • www.vimeo.com/linksounds fig.01 20 modules on plexi sheet fig.02 opening on the plexi with fans and air blockers fig.03 air blocker in action motor motor fan fans lights thread cloth module each approx. 3 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/2" plexi plexi plexiglass 6' x 6' air blockers air blocker diagrams fig.01 20 modules on plexi sheet fig.02 opening on the plexi with fans and air blockers fig.03 air blocker in action motor motor fan fans lights thread cloth module each approx. 3 1/2" x 6" x 1 1/2" plexi plexi plexiglass 6' x 6' air blockers air blocker diagrams