One Day Poem Pavilion

Jiyeong Song created a solar-powered projector that speaks a poem over time. This extremely site-specific piece consists of a network of complex perforations. As the sun moves throughout the day, stanzas appear in the shadow of the structure and as seasons change, different poems are shown. The literature requires patience as only one stanza is revealed at a time as the day passes by. This transformation of typography in light and shadow beautifully displays the nature of the sun and exhibits the morphing qualities of our environment.

You Fade to Light

rAndom International showcases Philips Lumiblade OLEDs in their You Fade to Light installation. This piece allows the audience to physically interact with their reflection and shadow. The OLEDs when not illuminated have a mirror finish allowing two images of the viewer to be displayed at once. This interplay is stunningly beautiful!

this too shall pass

dedicated to the Pratt MID class of 2010

Multiverse

Leo Villareal's Multiverse first installed in the fall of 2008 is now a permanent exhibit in the National Gallery of Art. The installation is "the largest and most complex light sculpture created by American artist". While this installation is impressively large with 41,000 LEDs, it lacks significance. The tunnel is beautiful landscape but it does not go further than that. I wish there was some element of interaction or a moment where the audience can see a dialogue or connection within the space. Regardless of its shallow meaning, I can still imagine kids looking up in awe as the move underground between the East and West wing of the National Gallery.

Stick Bomb

Tim Fort's kinetic display of popsicle sticks puts dominoes to shame.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is a Mexican electronic artist whose work spans the realms of architecture, technological theater and performance. Focusing on the urban environment, Lozano-Hemmer creates "relational architecture". Purposefully avoiding the cliche term interactive, Lozano-Hemmer intends his interventions to speak to a collective whole and defines them as "ephemeral experiences that establish architectural and social relationships where unpredicted behaviors may occur".



'Alzado Vectorial' (vectorial elevation) is an installation Lozano-Hemmer completed in Mexico City in 2007. This light sculpture consisted of 18 searchlights that were directed over Zocalo Square. The light shows that took place were all designed by spectators. Through a website (www.alzado.net), individuals could design a light show nd then watch it take place in real time. By creating another level of participation for the audience and by giving the viewers more authority, Lozano-Hemmer changes the perception of public pace; the public’s hand in creation is evident.



‘Pulse Front’ is a later installation Lozano-Hemmer finished in 2007 on Toronto’s Harbour Front. This light show is controlled by people’s heartbeats. There are multiple stations where onlookers can input their pulse and watch their beats along with others vibrate through the sky. This performance allows multiple composers to contribute to the show and begins to make relationships within members of the audience. ‘Pulse Front’ not only empowers the audience but also connects people to one another in new, strange ways.

the dawn of gesture development

This is an interesting dialogue between interaction designers at Nokia talking about gestural interfaces with electronics. Beware, "it could make you look insane."