stir qi 2
Invisible energy surrounds us. In this interactive installation sound waves, photons of light and other phenomena are visualized, sonified and experienced through movement.
Up to two people move through the space and body tracking software uses the horizontal and vertical positions of their hands to create visuals and also to compose music. A semi-random algorthithm choose which synth harmonies to play next while the hands allow you to play a sort of virtual theramin, with different tones in each hand. Your body’s proximity to the screen controls the tempo of the sound and also the scale of the visuals: up close the music slows to a crawl, while further away ramps up to frenetic speed. A “neutral state” of the piece, when no one is standing within range hickups and glitches both musically and visually.
stir qi 2
In the study of Qigong it is taught that you can move energy with your hands. This piece builds upon that idea by visualizing the hands as geometric shapes with motion trails that fade into colorful billows of smoke. A second visual element, particle fields, ebb and flow around you. A physics engine simulates forces of attraction, repulsion and turbulence to create organic interaction between you and the particles. In response to your gestures the particles swirl, swarm and collide.
In this piece visual and auditory reflections of body movements manifest as colorful images and musical tones. Each hand commands a different instrument which then generates melodies over a soundtrack composed in a manner which feels familiar yet never repeats. You simultaneously paint on the screen and improvise musically using movement and intuition.
This experience reminds us, perhaps subconsciously, that we have the ability to influence, transform and connect with energy and by extension ourselves