now you are there when this happened
(in audiovisual installation by Wei Yang and Murphy Janssen)
exhibition text panel
now you are there when this happened is an immersive installation inviting the viewers to dive headfirst into the enigmatic realms of memory, sparking contemplation on its poetic essence and elusive nature.
Memory seems a dormant landscape, waiting to be awakened; holding time in suspension until we actively engage with it, revealing only fragmented recollections while the rest linger in a nebulous haze. Sounds and colors serve as guides through this labyrinthine terrain and become the brushstrokes with which new images are painted onto the canvas of your own memories.
As one walks into the immersive experience and traverse the intricate web of Memory, one is invited to interact with the room and instruments and through those the remembered image. Move, Play, and Question the very essence of memory itself: whose memories are these, and are they set in stone, or are they still unfolding narratives?
(Special thanks to Jack Straw Cultural Center who generously support the project through its New Media Artist Residency. Project link on Jack Straw website)
recording/composition from the gallery workshop participants organized by Jack Straw and Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences (AVIA)
slightly more technical description of the installation
The project focuses on time and memory, building on previous projects both thematically and technically. It involves ambisonic audio, visual, and interactive elements inspired by various memory models. One model explored is episodic memory vs semantic memory, with the recording of a previous musical performance representing episodic memory and serving as an invitation to unlock semantic memory. Another model is the tri-part construct of sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. The project also explores the impact of spatial sounds on memory encoding and uses scattered instruments and visual effects to create a memorable experience. A particle system provides dynamic interaction and connects visual and audio elements. Additionally, a video delay line creates ghostly copies of viewers for interactive engagement.
Artist talk and Jack Straw Podcast interview.
Codes in openFrameworks/C++ and SuperCollider can be found here.