Brief

The theme for the exhibition is 'Social Aktion'. Engage the visitors in the museums major sound art archive by creating a 'social VJ'ing tool'.

Description

An illuminated half-sphere containing coloured patterns of light serve as an alternative video projection screen. Up to four active visitors can surround the sphere and influence the patterns that emerge inside it by controlling simplified game-pads. A selection of sound pieces from the museum archive is played back and fill the room with sounds that fit the fluid expression of the moving light.

Concept

The projection screen is redefined as a virtual camp fire, a centre point for social engagement. Like musicians in an orchestra, the active visitors have to both 'listen' to each other and master their instrument to improvise a coherent aesthetic expression. The sound pieces being played in the room provides a common ground for the light-quartet and listening becomes a social experience.

Thanks

Morten Søndergaard, for the invitation. Museet for Samtidskunst, for providing materials. Daniel Høier Øhrgaard, Morten Carlsen and Thomas Sørensen for general help. Marie Louise Andersson, for game-pad modification help. Michael Edinger, for help with the electronics. Enrico, for lots of practical help at the museeum. Dennis Paul, for teaching me a bunch of Java tricks. Christian Riekoff, for providing the procontroll library.

Tech

The half-sphere is made of plexi-glass and is filled with foggy water. The light patterns are made from trails drawn by a custom made particle system programmed in the Processing. Game-pads are interfaced with Prossesing using the procontroll library.