Uwe Rieger (DE)
Like a giant whale LightScale II floats through a virtual ocean, materializing environments, events and user interactions. The installation generates a tactile data experience through 3D projections onto multi-layered gauze surfaces. The kinetic structure consists of a twenty meter carbon construction, mounted asymmetrically on a single-point support. At the visitor’s touch the construction oscillates freely through space. A motion-tracking system combined with ultrasound sensors recognizes touch, position and movement of the LightScale. A live-render program overlays the physical construction with projected place-bound and interactive digital information. The project has its roots in a design by kunst und technik (R. Hartl, M. Janekovic, U. Rieger, H. Schroeder) in Berlin in the late 90s. Equipped with latest digital spatial technologies LightScale II now advances towards a responsive navigation tool that creates haptic-digital constructions and materializes spatial narratives.
Programming: Yinan Liu
Technical support: Karl Butler
With contributions and graphics from: Don Aualiitia, Louise Burling, Anne Buttle, William Challacombe-King, Jamikorn Charoenphan, Catherine Cruz, Ying Feng, Alex Goh, Zijia Ge, Michael Hori, Taryn Korent, Alexei Matene, Emilio Ocampo, Inosia Paea, Patrick Sherwood, Clement Wilson, Celine Xiang, Levi Shim
Construction: C-TECH lmtd, Auckland, NZ
Textile engineering: Structure Flex, Auckland, NZ
Textile fabrication: Nautilus Sails, Auckland, NZ
The project is supported by the University of Auckland.