May 08, 2006
Aperture + Contemplace
Spatial Experience
Aperture--by transmote.com-- focuses on the ways sound and light affect spatial perception. Spatial experience comprises several related elements. Some of these are ephemeral and difficult to isolate, such as time, context alongside adjacent spaces, and human presence or absence. However, some elements more directly affect spatial experience; in particular, sensory data such as visual changes, aural motion, and tactile input have profound impacts on the way we perceive space.
Multi-channel sonic textures, generated from recordings of existing spaces, encircle the space of the installation. A rear-projected ceiling is used as a display and light source, describing arcs of motion, intensity, and color. Transitions between audiovisual textures echo transitional places in architecture, places that deal with changes in scale, use, material, and motion. By contextualizing these changes of sound and light in physical space, Aperture enables visitors to gain a greater awareness of the composition of their individual perceptions of space.
Aperture is on display as part of Eyebeam's Circuit program from Tuesday, May 9th, through Saturday, May 20th. Eyebeam’s hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 10am-6pm.
Eric will be on hand to discuss the piece during the following times:
Tuesday, May 9th, 4-6pm
Wednesday, May 10th, 6-8pm
Aperture was developed during a fellowship in Eyebeam's Production Studio and is an extension of Contemplace.
Contemplace is a spatial personality that redesigns itself dynamically according to its conversations with its visitors. Sometimes welcoming, sometimes shy, and sometimes hostile, Contemplace's mood is apparent through a display of projected graphics, spatial sound, and physical motion. contemplace is an environment in which inhabitation becomes a two-way dialogue.
Contemplace is an exploration of possible interactions between people and the spaces they inhabit. Typically, built spaces are passive shells that rely on their inhabitants to provide them with character. What would our spaces be like if they could receive their visitors like a human host?
Contemplace's visual displays and overall structure are built with processing, a java-based programming platform. Contemplace's sounds are generated by max/msp, a graphical programming environment for manipulating sound. processing and max/msp communicate via flosc, a java server designed by Ben Chun to allow communication between OSC/XML-compatible programs over IP. Visitor presence and motion is detected by a webcam and pressure sensors. The same electronic circuit that monitors the pressure sensors also drives a motor that raises and lowers the ceiling with contemplace's mood swings.
Posted by jo at May 8, 2006 05:03 PM
