Glow

Glow is the representation of the luminescence of living beings when they engage in conversation. Powered by the fascination

that I had with recent developments made by biologist Professor Bonnie Bassler, Princeton University, in marine bacterium.

This visual installation will convey to the viewers and participants the interconnectivity that occurs through conversation in all beings

and in turn connects us all..

Bioluminescence:

Living organisms that emit light when actively engaged.

• July 23, 2007• Illuminating Work• Former WHOI associate

scientist Paul Dunlap works in his biology laboratory in 1995 on an experiment with bioluminescent bacteria. Marine organisms ranging from bacteria to fish make their own chemically induced light—called bioluminescence—to hunt, frighten predators, attract mates, communicate, or camouflage themselves. Movement in the water excites marine life to glow.

(Photo by Tom Kleindinst, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

When phytoplankton (bacterium) exchange energy with one another, the result is glow.

When humans exchange energy with one another the result can be glow.

Pre-Installation:

• Requires several collaborations and many months between Artist and Marine Biologists, Computer Scientists, Engineers, Film and Digital Media, and Theatre.

• A large tensile structure• Kiosk• 5 cameras• 5 projectors• 5 computers• Watch-out system• Closed environment for phytoplankton• Various electrical wiring, diodes, etc…• 4 caps• Signage• Venue

Installation:

• Inside the tensile structure, in the center is a large round kiosk.

• Kiosk features:

1.) Includes phytoplankton in a contained environment and monitored by devices that measure the activity. There is also a camera in which live feed is projected on to the interior of the structure on the ceiling.

2.) Four recording stations in which the viewer is given written instruction to place a small cap with diodes onto their head, then asked to engage in conversation with the other three persons around the kiosk.

3.) The cap measures the energy that is emitted and then this information is transferred into a computer program which, in turn, translates the measurement into increments of light, cameras capture the image of the person and then feed that information into the Watch-out system, which joins all four persons together in a projection on the tensile walls surrounding them. The increments of light are also projected onto the ceiling of the tensile structure as well.

Exterior of tensile structure

Side view, looking in

Ceiling, Looking Up Inside

Interior

Fin• The effect is to demonstrate the interconnectivity that

occurs through conversation in all beings and most specifically show that even microscopic organisms communicate, in a way we can correlate to our own conversation, thus forging a connection that might not otherwise have been recognized.

• Therefore, if humans can relate to microorganisms and understand how interconnected we really are, then maybe they will act in a more responsible way when faced with decisions that may effect our world collectively.