No. 207

Life/Time

By : Witaya Junma

Entrant’s location : Thailand

LINKS

Description

Life/Time is an Interactive Installation which creates a moving image based on the persistence of vision technique on drinking glasses. It is designed for participators to interact with the glasses by dipping their fingers into water and touch the rim of the glasses. The glasses will start moving and creating sounds if pressed and held. As the light shines through the moving glasses, the still images on the glasses will start to appear as one moving image and come to life. Each glass is different in size, shape and sound. The participant can choose to change the glasses and explore the various stories in each one. http://www.witayajunma.com/lifetime.html

What did you create?

Life/Time is an Interactive Installation which creates a moving image based on the persistence of vision technique on drinking glasses. It is designed for participators to interact with the glasses by dipping their fingers into water and touch the rim of the glasses. The glasses will start moving and creating sounds if pressed and held. As the light shines through the moving glasses, the still images on the glasses will start to appear as one moving image and come to life. Each glass is different in size, shape and sound. The participant can choose to change the glasses and explore the various stories in each one.

Why did you make it?

I am fascinated by the relationship between light and perception. Through a good amount of research, I have discovered an interesting motion picture technique. What inspires me are the stories depicted on an everyday object of our cultural interest such as a drinking glass. I have a tremendous desire to capture the life, every gesture and motivation of each glass’s user at a specific time period. My observation suggests that in some cases, a drinking glass can represent a connection with the spiritual beliefs and by worshiping these spirits, their desires such as success, affluence and good fortune will be met. The most captivating part in all of this is that our Thai culture still embraces this concept despite our modern lifestyle by which those gestures have long gone.

How did you make it?

I documented the stories by drawing them up in digital file and use animation loop to create 20 frames per second. I then transferred these frames onto a transparent material and adhered it on the glasses’ surface. I let light through each glass to test the silhouette. Once the silhouette is precise, I used laser to engrave these frames on the real glasses. The rotating plate is designed to adhere to the glasses and the interactive part is achieved with Arduino codes. When wet finger is pressed on the glass rim, the pressure triggers the sensor and the motor spins the glass. If the finger stays pressed on the rim, the sound will be produced and the light will flash 20 times per second, coinciding with the 20 frames on the glass. As motion picture on film strips, this is achievable on drinking glasses. The motion continues as long as there is sufficient pressure on the glass rim. Once the pressure is removed, everything stops.

Your entry’s specification

Complete darkness is required. Minimum space 4 x 4 meters with 2.5 meters from floor to ceiling Turntable for interactive installation x 2 sets -Stand for the glass casting light to wall 30 x 50 x 75 cm -Stand with suspended light fixture 30 x 50 x 140 cm Glass bench x 1 set 30 x 100 cm -5 pieces of glass works 220v 15 Amp required to operate Total weight = 35 kg.

CLOSE