AURA (2017) is an audiovisual installation that materialises emotions into a perceptible, physical form. The audience' own emotional experience manifests as organic, pulsing light compositions of various form, colour and intensity. The installation visually tributes to the Solid Light Works by artist Anthony McCall, further exploring light as a medium.
The transformation of emotions into light is accomplished by a scientific system, developed in collaboration with the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. Using multiple wearable biosensors, the system registers brainwaves, heart-rate variability, and galvanic skin response. From the sensors, emotional “data” is analysed and metamorphosed into its symbolic representation as light. The differences in individuals’ emotional responses, being influenced by a musical composition, become visible to all who are present.
AURA explores how this perceptual process influences the understanding of ourselves and of each other. The installation symbolises the materialisation of (internal) metaphysical space into (external) physical space.
medium
biosensors, RGB lasers, hazer, 8.1 speaker system
created by
Nick Verstand
Salvador Breed
commissioned by
VPRO Medialab
in collaboration with
TNO
EagleScience
Poul Holleman
year
2017
dimensions
15 x 15 x 6 meters
exhibition
Dutch Design Week (Eindhoven, 2017)
video
Blitzkickers
photography
Noortje Knulst
publications
Dezeen - Dezeen's top 10 installations of 2017
FRAME - Highlights of Dutch Design Week 2017
Dezeen - AURA installation translates emotions into beams of light
Elephant - Hyper-sensory Future
VPRO - 10 tips voor de Dutch Design Week 2017