EXHIBITIONS DATES
January 31 - February 10, 2001
ABOUT THE SHOW
Sphere - powertransformer
Petra Vargova's Sphere is composed of an interactive power transformer. This transformer enables the viewer, via their own energy, to influence the behavior of a virtual model. The project works as a result of that ability to transform human energy into a virtual self-destructive potential. As an interactive installation, it attempts to place two levels of perception in parallel - the real and the virtual - for the spectator has a physical object at his disposal to allow him an influence upon the virtual image. However, though it is human energy that presents the crucial starting point from which Sphere can work, that energy is then subsumed by the project, leading towards an independent self-destructive conclusion that is far removed from the initial human input.
A sphere of approximately 25 cm diameter represents the focal part of the installation. Its interior is made of a soft foam rubber, upon the surface of which power readers (tensometers) have been installed. The whole sphere is then enclosed within a white silicon cover. Although the initial appearance of the sphere is cold and unfriendly, it is soft and supple to the touch. The physical sphere is connected to its virtual image on the screen via computer.
The spectator interacts the moment he touches the physical object. That energy generated through contact with the sphere activates its virtual image. This image, dependant on the level of energy, first changes its shape - i.e. the virtual sphere absorbs the energy absorbed by the physical sphere and slowly increases in volume. The further supply of human energy gradually transforms the surface of the virtual object until it is red-hot. Thus, the white cold sphere has become a red-hot object which absorbs all additional energy to such an extent that it is eventually "swallowed" by its own power. Following the maximum energy input, the virtual sphere actually "burns up". With the destruction of the virtual image, the computer generates a new model with the same qualities as found at the start. If the viewer quits the interaction without having generated sufficient energy to destroy the virtual object, the image simply returns to its initial position.
Technical Specifications
Voltage potentials are carried from the sphere to an amplifier, which both executes and adjusts them according to their impedance. The signal is subsequently compared to a reference source of the constant signal and is modulated with a carrier signal. After the signal exits the reference source, it has a sufficient amplitude that enables its conversion to the input circuits of the computer. Here, all changes that come from the sphere are processed by special software, which converts data for transport to the graphic output device (monitor).
SW: Alias|wavefront V8.5
HW: SGI O2
The Sphere project was developed in the multimedia laboratory at the Soros Center for Contemporary Arts in Prague.
With grateful thanks to THOMSON and InWay for their technical support.