No. 159
Curtain of Light
By : everythinggood
Entrant’s location : United States
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Description
Curtain of Light is an interactive volumetric projection installation. A barrier of light divides the gallery space – which visitors are encouraged to push against. The ethereal boundary moves and sounds in response to the touch of those that approach it.
What did you create?
Curtain of Light is an interactive volumetric projection installation. A barrier of light divides the gallery space – which visitors are encouraged to push against. The ethereal boundary moves and sounds in response to the touch of those that approach it.
Why did you make it?
In light of recent political events, it has become clear that we are living in an increasingly divided and isolationist world. However, many of these perceived divisions are superficial. Curtain of Light highlights and dispels these arbitrary and destructive divisions. Although both the physical and psychological walls that divide us may seem solid and unmoving, we show just how fragile these constructs are. When you start to resist and push back, they fall away. Via this work, we create an environment which forces people to confront the barriers between them. As an interactive art installation that is open to the public, it encourages strangers to interact and connect with one another. Participating in Curtain of Light acts as a catalyst for dissolving barriers and bringing people together through a common experience.
How did you make it?
A 3D camera mounted on the ceiling tracks visitors in the space using computer vision. Custom software written in C++/OpenFrameworks is used to analyze people's motion, and a reactive line animation projected through haze uses the a physics engine to respond to the touch of participants as they approach and interact with the installation. In addition, spatialized sound effects and audio filters are triggered in response.
Your entry’s specification
The installation medium is primarily composed of light and sound. It is variable dimensions, and can scale to the space where it is being installed. Depending on the ceiling height, the size of the installation can be anywhere between 10’x10’x10’ to 20’x20’x20’. The installation requires a dark and contained space. The components of the installation are: - a computer - a 3D camera mounted to the ceiling - a projector mounted to the ceiling - haze machine - speaker system - haze - custom software