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Dry Translator, 2002 Dry Translator,
a sculptural installation piece, is built in response to new trends
in 'smart architecture.' Smart technology is being created for enhanced
human interaction and control of one’s urban building and home
environments. Interestingly what excites many is not the necessarily
the enhancement of control, but really more the idea of intelligent
responsiveness and heightened personal connection with the rooms they
inhabit. Dry Translator
is taking this idea of responsiveness to an exaggerated degree.
The idea is to create an environment so sensitive to human presence
that a touch to its walls sends resonant vibrations throughout the bodies
of its occupants. Whereas normally people acknowledge the presence of
walls in a building as merely types of boundaries or surfaces, this
piece allows them to engage with walls in newly intimate ways such as
touching, beating, and even 'playing' the walls as instruments. And,
it also allows them to use the walls as sorts of touch messaging devices.
The piece includes
two custom designed audio vests (which gallery visitors are invited
to put on) and an interactive wall. Essentially what occurs with this
piece is that when a participant touches the wall in the gallery, they
hear the sound of their touch not locally where their fingers hit the
wall, but actually on their own torso (via the vest). Inside of the
wall there are several wired tentacles that act like stethoscopes which
are able to pick up the slightest vibrations within the drywall material.
Sounds from participants touching the wall are greatly amplified and
transmitted wirelessly to the vests. Wall Dimensions:
99"h x 21"w 74.5"d This
project is partially supported by a Community Arts Assistance Program
grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the
Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. |