Get a deep dive into our technological findings. How did we come up with our final work? And how does it work?
Once you enter the room you will see the light from the lamp reflecting on the moving plates of plexiglass. These 10x10cm rectangles have a layer of what is called iridescent foil. Iridescence comes from the Greek term “ἶρις, îris” meaning rainbow, and the Latin suffix ‘-escent’ meaning “having a tendency toward.”
The process of iridescence is therefore literally about the tendency toward a rainbow-like light.
The start of our project started with a conversation about fascinations. A remarkable similarity was that each one of us has an interest in light and reflections. That became the foundation of our project. After some research we came across iridescence and immediately knew we wanted to use that. Our concept, which is all about the oceans, came along the way. We thought of different ways to translate iridescent material into an interactive artform. From lamps with rotating mirrors to our final flowing wave of plastic rectangles.
The wave motion is a direct connection to the ocean. Together with our fascination for light and reflection, we concluded that the reflections of light were about the shimmering sunlight on the sea, creating a similar effect. Our story came to life, as you can read on our information-page. But what about the tech?
Human interaction is key to the message of our installation. The core of our message is that the ocean is to be left alone. Too much human interference is destructive and a storm may rise if we won’t treat the seas with respect. A reflection of this on a ‘micro-level’ is the way our wave reacts to human movement. Once a person comes close to our moving wave, a sensor will pick up this movement and will translate this into a more extreme movement of the wave. Servo motors are controlled by an Arduino. To enhance the atmosphere of an ocean-like environment, the viewer is surrounded by sounds of waves.
So from a distance, the motion seems peaceful, and so do the reflections on the wall. But once you comes too close, the motion gets out of control and the feeling of peace is disturbed. The shallow sounds of the waves crashing at shore grow more intense. Only at a safe distance, the installation is to be enjoyed properly. Just as it would in real life.