EVERYONE MATTERS - Installation Arts

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"Everyone, as matter of this world, matters."

Global environmental issues continue to worsen rapidly, yet as inhabitants of this planet, we still lack awareness of these crises. These issues are often too enormous, abstract, and disconnected from individuals, so even though the public is generally aware of their existence, it is still hard to resonate with them. However, carbon emissions are not solely the responsibility of large enterprises; every consumer's small change can alter the circumstances. The power to control whether the Earth's environment develops positively or negatively lies in the hands of each individual.

This project aims to create an interactive installation that presents an individual's environmental impact through digital arts. The works can attract the public's attention and participation, allowing them to comprehend the metaphor and reflect on the issues. Even if it's just a small change made by one person, it can create a significant difference as a group accumulates them. No matter how small, every action can create a ripple effect and bring about massive change. Everyone, as a matter of this planet, matters.

The Dark Matters

The floating black particles in this installation represent carbon emissions and pollution every individual creates. The space for installing the work could vary the method of displaying and interaction. The particles grow with the audience's participation, symbolising the extent of human activity to the environment. This installation could be a powerful visual metaphor for the ecological consequences of human behaviour and encourage viewers to consider how their actions affect the larger picture.

I used Processing as the main programming tool to generate real-time visuals and combined it with other physical computing devices to collect external information.

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I
- REFLECTION -

I set up a large screen in the shared space as a display and used an ultrasonic sensor with an Arduino board to detect the viewer's distance from the installation. As the viewer approaches the screen, the particles simultaneously enlarge. By moving forward and backwards, viewers can control the size of the particles, prompting a reflection on how our behaviour impacts the whole picture.

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II
- EMPOWERMENT -

I set up this installation in a common hallway, projecting a dynamic graphic vertically onto a column using projection mapping. A Leap Motion sensor is mounted below the column, detecting viewers' hand movements and gestures. As viewers stretch out their fingers, the particles grow with their movements, and the particles shrink as they clench their fists. This installation shows viewers the power they hold in controlling things, placing the decision in their hands.

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III
- INUNDATION -

I set up this installation on a larger scale, taking up an entire wall of a room. The experience becomes more immersive, with viewers becoming part of the work. As viewers approach the wall, their shadows are cast onto it, becoming one of the "matters" in the environment. A distance sensor is used to detect the viewer's proximity to the wall. As they walk closer to the wall, the picture becomes darker and more oppressive, representing the relationship between human activities and the environment. This installation aims to convey a sense of being engulfed by environmental disasters.