Intersections - Nguyen Dang Binh

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Daphna Talithman,
Orna Portugaly and
Sharon Younger
Heartbeats
10 feet x 12 feet x 12 feet
Art installation
ARTIST STATEMENT
This interactive installation uses participants’ pulses to create virtual
life. Four heart-rate sensors are stationed around a circular surface.
A fetal figure is projected next to each station. When a user connects
to one of the stations, the figure is “born”: it starts to pace and progresses
one step with each heartbeat. Each station features a different
figure with a characteristic movement of its own. The figure’s way
of moving alters according to the participant’s pulse: when the pulse
is rapid, the figure takes larger steps and moves more quickly, and
when the pulse is slow, the figure takes small steps and its way of
moving is more subdued.
When several users connect simultaneously, the figures they bring
to life move toward each other, and their paths may cross. In order
for the figures to meet, they have to get to the crossing point at the
same time. To achieve that, some participants must accelerate their
pulses by breathing rapidly or moving, and others must slow down
their pulses by taking slow breaths and trying to relax.
When figures meet, they are released from the control of the pulse
and from their own repetitive movement. They find consolation in
Electronic Art and Animation Catalog Art Gallery Artworks
CONTACT
Daphna Talithman
Independent Artist
17 Tarsat Street
Tel Aviv 64283 Israel
daphtal@yahoo.com
www.fylkingen.se/hz/n6/hayashi.html
each other’s company, but their bonding is temporary. Following
their brief encounter, they resume their repetitive movement. When
one of the participants withdraws, the corresponding figure fades
away, subsequently resuming its initial position next to the station.
Heartbeats creates virtual life in a virtual human mini-lab. The existence
of this small community depends on the will and cooperation
of the participants, who must be emotionally and physically involved
“with all their hearts.”
TECHNICAl STATEMENT
Heartbeats uses four simplified ECG units that were built especially
for the installation. Participants’ pulses are measured and transmitted
to the computer. The computer analyzes this information so
that it can control the movies featuring the figures, move the figures
in the right direction, and calculate their position in order to create
encounters.
This installation was created at the Camera Obscura School of Art
and supported by Showlogix, makers of show control software.