The combined sound and light installation encompasses a projector, 20 centrally and vertically arranged threads and 8 active loudspeakers mounted on the ceiling. Animated points and lines are projected onto the threads and visualize the dynamics of the water cycle of two trees, whose data is recorded over a 24 hour period and compressed to 12 minutes for the installation. A sound composition based on the same data surrounds the visitor.
The light installation was developed as part of a cooperation with the artists-in-labs program of the ZHdK and the Color-Light-Center. We focused on the question how abstract scientific or other data can be visualized and experienced in a spatial context.
The scientific data was collected by the Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape (WSL) at various test sites on the water cycle of trees. Christina Della Giustina as a former participant of the artists-in-labs program developed a sound composition based on these data, which we also used for the development of the light installation.
For the visualization of the water circulation, we developed a visual language based on aesthetic criteria. Speed, length and total amount of light of the projected points and lines were all mathematically related to the scientific data. The visual results obtained by programming were then selected according to aesthetic criteria.
In contrast to scientific visualizations the underlying data can not be deduced anymore. However its aesthetic interpretation and transformation adds a completely new quality of personal experiencing of scientific processes with the invitation to reflect about the often abstract facts.
A direct impression of the complexity and an alternative approach emerge, which not only promote art, but also offer great potential for science itself.