The installation called Of the Now by Nick Bednarz gives wings to anyone who steps into the human outline in the center. If you move on, the wings disappear again. There isn’t much hi tech involved (apparently flash and a light barrier), but the idea is still enchanting. Especially if you don’t know the installation yet and step unsuspectingly into the outline, the effect is probably verrry cool. :)
I think it would be even cooler if the wings could follow you around. ^_^
Even interactiveinstallations usually let their users stand around relatively motionless. I wonderful counter-example is Move, a kind of game which I saw at the Ars Electronica Festival 2007.
Move consists of a game field which is projected onto the floor. You stand on this field and will be animated to move in different game modes. The fundamental rule is: Avoid the red.
I never played such an physically exhausting computer game in my life. After a while you are frantically panting. :) But it is so much fun, you do not want to stop. :)
If you ever get to Linz, Austria, go try it! I think Move can be played in the Ars Electronica Center even when there is currently no festival.
Another cool thing about Move is that it is firmly rooted in reality. You do not control a avatar in a virtual world with your movement, but you yourself have to escape from the red. (admittedly, even in Move you are represented by a grey shadow on the field, but the felt result is the same because there is almost no lag)
More games at the border of reality and virtuality
The Digitalist created an interesting ad for Elle Macpherson Intimates (apparently an underwear brand). They placed a huuuge display in a shop window which shows only the brand name on black background by default. As soon as someone moves in front of the window, this visitor’s silhouette opens a view behind the black – onto videos of sparely dressed women. It is like an inverted shadow with smear effect. :)
An interactive installation by Daan Roosegaarde is called Dune 4.0. It consists of hundred of black fibers with LED-lighted tops, which react on the movements and sounds of passing visitors. It kinda reminds one of futuristic techno reed. :) Daan Roosegaarde refers to his installation as an interactive landscape.
I like this beautiful, slightly eerie atmosphere.
In the video, Dune 4.0 is installed in an interior space. The artist later installed it in a pedestrian pass underground. I think the atmosphere is better in this video, though.
Judging from the video, the installation’s reactions to the visitors are a little delayed, which would be a pity. But maybe I misjudge it or maybe it has already been improved.
Soon, I will have to write my master thesis. I’m still not absolutely sure if I should follow the chosen topic, so I’m posting the synopsis of my idea here to get some feedback.
For example: Is the title too lurid? ^_^
Update: I chose to work on this topic, but I focused it on the dramaturgy part. I did not think that building the formerly proposed installation would be possible in this timeframe.
This installation by Pablo Valbuena is called Augmented Sculpture v1.0. I don’t think words can convey the fascinating effect of this installation of light, so better watch the video above. :)
This is one of my favorite installations. I have seen it in reality (at Ars Electronica 2007) and it was at least equally fascinating and beautiful there as in the video. The setup at the Ars Electronica Festival had a more mysterious atmosphere, because it was placed in a very dark, old, room which had the feeling of a ruin.
At the website of Pablo there are more beautiful pictures of the installation, the same video in better quality, as well as the artist’s description:
This project is focused on the temporary quality of space, investigating space-time not only as a three dimensional environment, but as space in transformation.
Some time ago, I visited the Museu d´Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). Most exhibited artworks could only raise limited interest in me, but there was one exception: The music installation „Opera for a Small Room“ by Janett Cardiff and George Bures Miller. Unlinke our interactive music installation Dave, this installation is not interactive, but it is nevertheless impressive.
In 2005, the american sculptors Dan Havel and Dean Ruck built some kind of vortex into two houses. They called the resulting artwork, which lead like a tunnel through the house, “Inversion”.
Unfortunately, this weird construction had only a very short life span. The two houses were scheduled for destruction just a few months later – and most likely, the schedule was kept.
The audiovisual and interactive installation Volume consists of numerous shining columns, which are installed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The columns change their optical textures when visitors walk between them. Probably, the sound of the installation changes as well - but that is not described anywhere.
Volume is a cooperation between United Visual Artists (UVA) and Robert Del Naja (also known as “3D” from Massive Attack), as well as Neil Davidge from one point six.
I think this installation is pretty cool - although you probably only know the real coolness when you are standing right within Volume. The video at the project website is by all means impressively atmospheric.
