Self-Portrait As An Ecosystem
in-progress installation
Ecosystem Map
Ecosystem Map
Self Portrait as an Ecosystem is about how the idiosyncrasies of human perception shape information as it flows through us and manifests as form.
Architect Toyo Ito writes, “Form is a manifestation of flow.” To me this means our built environment is a manifestation of the flow of people and information. I also believe our natural world and living things are a manifestation of the flow of energy in the form of heat, wind, water, chemical bonds, etc. This quote makes me wonder: what are the different kinds of feedback between form and flow? And how do the limits of our perception of ‘form’ shape our movement? For example, the way we taste pepper has shaped so many cities and coastlines, which in turn produce mind-boggling cuisines centered around these hard-got spices to further influence our taste.
Another example comes to mind: while describing Bach’s Cello Suites at the Hollywood Bowl, Yo-Yo Ma mentioned that these compositions include long sections of monophonic melody. There are fewer chords than we’re used to hearing in contemporary music. But everyone in the audience synthesizes chords and harmony in their mind as they listen to the notes. Yo-Yo Ma mused that this process makes the listening experience more personal. This struck me as a metaphor for how we experience time in general: lyrical and subjective, pieced together from sporadic periods of attention/inattention.
In Self-portrait as an Ecosystem, I present sculptures in near-total darkness against black velvet. The sculptures are almost invisible, but they are revealed through projected light. As visitors move around the space, they synthesize an impression of the objects in front of them. They will also begin to understand and explore the bath of information that flows through the space and shapes what they see.
Ideas Map
a playful exploration of my ecosystem through quotes
Self Portrait as an Ecosystem is about how the idiosyncrasies of human perception shape information as it flows through us and manifests as form.
Architect Toyo Ito writes, “Form is a manifestation of flow.” To me this means our built environment is a manifestation of the flow of people and information. I also believe our natural world and living things are a manifestation of the flow of energy in the form of heat, wind, water, chemical bonds, etc. This quote makes me wonder: what are the different kinds of feedback between form and flow? And how do the limits of our perception of ‘form’ shape our movement? For example, the way we taste pepper has shaped so many cities and coastlines, which in turn produce mind-boggling cuisines centered around these hard-got spices to further influence our taste.
Another example comes to mind: while describing Bach’s Cello Suites at the Hollywood Bowl, Yo-Yo Ma mentioned that these compositions include long sections of monophonic melody. There are fewer chords than we’re used to hearing in contemporary music. But everyone in the audience synthesizes chords and harmony in their mind as they listen to the notes. Yo-Yo Ma mused that this process makes the listening experience more personal. This struck me as a metaphor for how we experience time in general: lyrical and subjective, pieced together from sporadic periods of attention/inattention.
In Self-portrait as an Ecosystem, I present sculptures in near-total darkness against black velvet. The sculptures are almost invisible, but they are revealed through projected light. As visitors move around the space, they synthesize an impression of the objects in front of them. They will also begin to understand and explore the bath of information that flows through the space and shapes what they see.
Ideas Map
an exploration of form and flow through quotes
1. Turntable
This piece is the focal point of the ecosystem. It is a 5-foot diameter abstract geometry that receives projection from two sources. By turning this sculpture, the visitor changes every piece in the show.
1. Turntable
This piece is the focal point of the ecosystem. It is a 5-foot diameter abstract geometry that receives projection from two sources. By turning this sculpture, the visitor changes every piece in the show.
2. Wheel: Stars & Reef
Two 5-foot diameter wheels emerge from the two large figures. The reef flows from the pool of fluids beneath the decomposing figure lying on the ground. The stars emerge from the gaze of the seated figure. The visitor may explore a branching and emergent story by spinning the wheel in different directions.
2. Wheel: Stars & Reef
Two 5-foot diameter wheels emerge from the two large figures. The reef flows from the pool of fluids beneath the decomposing figure lying on the ground. The stars emerge from the gaze of the seated figure. The visitor may explore a branching and emergent story by spinning the wheel in different directions.
3. Figures: Sitting & Laying
There will be two 1.5x scale mesh figures seated and laying on the floor. They will be painted dark gray and made to disappear against black velvet fabric. They will be revealed only by projected effects including lines, gradients, and fluids-like particle simulations. All projected content will be controlled live by the turntable. A projected ocean of fluids will grow from beneath the laying figure.
3. Figures: Sitting & Laying
There will be two 1.5x scale mesh figures seated and laying on the floor. They will be painted dark gray and made to disappear against black velvet fabric. They will be revealed only by projected effects including lines, gradients, and fluids-like particle simulations. All projected content will be controlled live by the turntable. A projected ocean of fluids will grow from beneath the laying figure.
4. A Moth
The space is also home to the flight path of a moth, weaving its way through the gallery. Visitors may animate the moth (bring it to life) by turning the dodecahedron sculpture.
4. A Moth
The space is also home to the flight path of a moth, weaving its way through the gallery. Visitors may animate the moth (bring it to life) by turning the dodecahedron sculpture.
5. Responsive Wall: Forest & Rain
The walls of the show will feature traces of trees sketched and formed from mesh. As the visitors stand still long enough, the walls will respond by producing digitally rendered trees, flowers, and organisms that flow into the silhouette of the visitor . There will also be occasional rainstorms, and again the silhouette of the visitor will interact with and interrupt each little pixel as it falls from the ceiling.
5. Responsive Wall: Forest & Rain
The walls of the show will feature traces of trees sketched and formed from mesh. As the visitors stand still long enough, the walls will respond by producing digitally rendered trees, flowers, and organisms that flow into the silhouette of the visitor . There will also be occasional rainstorms, and again the silhouette of the visitor will interact with and interrupt each little pixel as it falls from the ceiling.
6. Magic Window
This window will open to what appears to be outside. There will be a wheel-shaped section of polarizing filter mounted in front of a modified LCD screen + polycarbonate sculpture. When viewed in isolation, the screen will appear to be white. When the polarizing filter intercepts the viewer’s line of sight, colors and animation are revealed.
6. Magic Window
This window will open to what appears to be outside. There will be a wheel-shaped section of polarizing filter mounted in front of a modified LCD screen + polycarbonate sculpture. When viewed in isolation, the screen will appear to be white. When the polarizing filter intercepts the viewer’s line of sight, colors and animation are revealed.
