Natural hygroscope
2014
Pig bladder, pine wood, copper metal
The animal bladder possesses a unique relationship with air humidity, manifesting in a visible change of the material surface. High humidity yields a slightly corrugated, wrinkled surface whereas low humidity yields a taut, smooth surface.
An organic hydrometer was created to connect animal bladder material phenomenology and natural weather phenomena. By forcing air through a bladder hand pump onto the stretched membrane surface, the in- strument transforms the air humidity into sound, which varies in moisture sensitivity (high tones for low humidity and deep tones for high humidity).
This rudimentary tool translates an invisible reality (air humidity) into a visible and audible one. It generates an awareness and better understanding of material and nature; a new way of interpreting and perceiving weather phenomena.
The book about the material research and the concept on issuu:
Photography
Allison Crank
