Moments of Grey

Moments of Grey is the outcome of a speculative project that researched and developed prototype responsive objects which attempt to evoke what might be found near the sea. As children most people have listened to the sea in a shell at the beach. What I am working with is exploring this type of experience with a found object on a beach, to create an almost magical object that is made alive by technology.

In a gallery the work is placed on the floor on a circle of foam; the user picks the objects up, touches and plays with them, rolls them around in their hands and strokes them, like they would stroke a found object on the beach. The objects respond by glowing and playing sounds of water and the beach environment.

A constant frustration with my past immersive sound and video works is the separation between the viewer and the work. Water is something that surrounds and touches our bodies. These new works take different approach, by making objects that are more tactile, not the sensation of water but tactile in terms of what you might find near the water.

The objects are completely self-contained and do not require additional technology. Each object contains a basic stamp single chip computer, sound chips, leds, light sensors and an accelerometer. The object is made of polyester resin, foam and material.

For more information see the project site. 

This project has been assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and STEIM (the Studio for Electro-Instrumental Music) in The Netherlands.