TOUCHING BALANCE
This mural displays the give and take relationship we have with the ocean. Incorporating both painting and video we are able to show the multiple layers and the process that make up this piece. As humans add CO2 into the atmosphere and oceans, we ultimately strip it of its natural chemical makeup in a process called ocean acidification. It can be difficult to sympathize with something that takes effort to see. The video mapping aims to be blended with the brush strokes. Videos are a time-lapse and underwater footage during field trips helping to do research on Stingrays in the fishing community: El Jobo, Costa Rica.
BIOLUX
Humans can only survive roughly 3 minutes without oxygen. Plankton produces most of the oxygen on the planet, on which life on earth depends—human life too. Yet most people do not know what these thousands of species, on which their own lives depends, look like. Other species of plankton are important for their capacity to absorb carbon, another critical role they play, which affects our own lives and well being. This proposed exhibit will display critical facts about plankton alongside the artwork.
There are many varieties of plankton species which are beautiful as well, such as the one below. They almost appear to be designed by an artist, like an ancient mythic symbol carved in stone, or a new fancy logo for a modern, expensive product. In other words, they are visually arresting images whose very design seems to have some hidden significance.
The idea of creating an art exhibit with these images is to awaken and remind people of the interconnections and interdependence of our survival with thousands of life forms that we cannot even see, especially since many of these species are microscopic. Taking something so tiny, but critical, which most people never think about and making it large and beautiful is also an appeal to ask people to take a look at these life forms and to think about their significance to the viewer’s own life. To stimulate the viewer to think about this question more deeply, for example, the exhibit could ask viewers to hold their breath, while looking at an image, then exhale and inhale deeply again while looking at the same image.
Hyper-dynamism is a projection installation exploring an ancient cloud hand tai chi practice. Through motion tracking and lighting the user will be guided to follow a simple symmetrical pattern that also remains in stillness. The goal is for people feel a calm interactive immersion through meditation, focused movement.
When entering the space, a person will observe the energizing path of their hands, their body movement and scale as their image is projected onto the wall. People will either follow the movement correctly to see an animation of a tree growing. However, smoke and darkness will dominate the space, referencing our chaotic lives and stressing the need to slow down and move with purpose. The audience must focus their attention for 30 seconds in order to see the final result.
