installations at Academy Gallery
Wednesday 4 September - Friday 6 September - Academy Gallery (HKU building at Janskerkhof)
Sonic Rhopalia
Kenshiro Taira (Keio University), Sogen Handa (Keio University), Risako Shibata (Keio University), Nimisha Anand (Keio University), Len Matsuda (Keio University), Victoria Maki (Keio University), Ryotaro Hoshino (Keio University), Kenta Tanaka (Keio University), Ryoho Kobayashi (J.F. Oberlin University), Yuta Uozumi (Keio University), Shinya Fujii (Keio University)



Abstract:

The Jellyfish is a species with one of the most simplistic and complete Umwelts. Its pulsating movements are caused by a refined network of a few neural receptors, named Rhopalia. In the ocean, these pulses ripple as waves in the water, influencing the organic pulses of the next jellyfish. Such interactions (that cannot be seen by the naked eye), have sustained the existence of the species across 6 billion years.
“Sonic Rhopalia” is an installation that reframes this natural phenomenon as a sound system. The work is produced by the pulsation of four Aurelia aurita (a.k.a. moon jellyfish). By using TouchDesigner and a web camera to capture the movement of each jellyfish, we detect its pulse through image analysis (using OpenCV). Once its pulse is detected, it is used as a trigger for music composition, on M4L (Max for Live) through OSC. Sounds are played in response to each pulse, and when synchronized, different chords and rhythms are produced, developing into different phases with varying soundscapes.
By reframing jellyfish as an interface for music generation, Sonic Rhopalia allows the audience to experience the vitality of jellyfish in a completely new dimension from conventional methods of bio-marine appreciation.


Yadorigi
Riki Saito (Keio University), Fushi Sano (Keio University), Rikuto Shinmi (Keio University), Minna Hosaka (Keio University), Haruru Muramatsu (Keio University), Kenta Tanaka (Keio University), Ryoho Kobayashi (J.F. Oberlin University), Yuta Uozumi (Keio University), Shinya Fujii (Keio University)


Click here for the video presentation
Abstract:

This work is a sound installation that utilizes the surrounding human flow information to dynamically transform the visual and auditory expressions of a Hokora integrating changes in light, shadow, and music based on the movements and tendencies of people, ultimately creating an interactive environment where the shrine and individuals mutually influence each other. “Hokora is a miniature Shinto shrine on a street side, and in Japan, it is a common practice to stop or bow when passing by. Through the faith in the shrine, the environment, or human flow, also undergoes changes. In this work, the information from the surrounding human flow is reflected in the presentation of light and shadow reminiscent of dappled sunlight, causing the visual and auditory expressions of the Hokora to change based on people's actions and further influencing the environment. In this work, three ultrasonic distance sensor values are used as input, and the detection frequency and distance values of the past 10 detections are recorded for each sensor. The recorded detection frequency is used to calculate the congestion level of the surrounding human flow. Based on these two pieces of human flow information, changes are introduced in the movement of lights controlled by motors (DC and servo), creating shadow play and altering the music output. This contributes to the portrayal of light inspired by dappled sunlight. The density of human flow influences the left and right movement of lights, reflecting the intensity of the light's movement. On the other hand, in the realm of music, the density of human flow modulates the frequency of high-pass and low-pass filters. By offering viewers an expression of the Hokora that changes based on human flow information, this installation creates an effect where the Hokora and people mutually influence each other, a phenomenon not traditionally seen in Hokora.


Ocean Pandæmonium -The Noisy Plasticscape-
Ayaka Sakakibara (Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences)



Abstract:

This work is a sound installation that uses plastic debris to consider the interrelationship between people and the ocean and the history of the ocean. Today the toxicity of plastic in the marine environment is being debated and data shows the increase of plastic in the oceans. Although the data accurately represents the facts it is somewhat cold attitude and we are rarely aware of our personal involvement in the data. Also the ocean viewed from land is calm and beautiful and there is a gap between the actual pollution in the ocean and what humans see from land. A critical situation for marine life is occurring in the ocean. We humans cannot live underwater and cannot truly understand the creatures of the sea. The project creates a virtual sea made of bottles to represent the gap between the sea as seen from the land and the sea inside and emotionally translates the data to appeal to the human senses looking into the situation and history of the sea through the lens of sound.