Volume 4,096 (2012)
Volume 4,096, a new permanent exhibit by digital arts group Squidsoup, is now on permanent display at the Royal Society New Zealand. The piece is suspended 6m above visitors in the main foyer of RSNZ’s beautiful new Headquarters, and can be seen from three floors within the building, and also outside. There is no escape!
The piece has two modes – day and night. Daytime mode consists of slow moving spheres, reminiscent of the flows of a lava-lamp, designed to complement but not overpower what is a working environment rather than an art gallery. The place turns into more of a gallery space at night, when exuberant multicolour explosions fill the atrium in volumetric splendour. Seen from outside, it is clear there is a fireworks display going on indoors.
Squidsoup have many years experience at building visual installations using three dimensional grids of lights like this to create truly three dimensional visual experiences that occupy physical space, but Volume 4,096 was the first exhibit to use a new hardware system, Ocean of Light 2.
The system is scalable and can be configured in highly flexible configurations. The system is also weather-proof and tough enough to be used within reach of the public and in permanent architectural installations.
Photos courtesy Shaun Waugh. More images here.
A Squidsoup project by Amthony Rowe, Gaz Bushell and Chris Bennewith
