Ripple 1998
The fascination of watching ripples spread out across the surface of still water or witnessing the surface disturbances of an illuminated swimming pool and the seemingly random rays of hypnotic light that dance around the pool sides and walls, becomes the starting point for this installation.
By the intervention of the spectator and the use of sound waves, temporary order can be brought to this seemingly random chaos. The installation is an interactive, computer-controlled environment consisting of nine plinths, on top of each of which there are shallow, open top perspex tanks, approximately half full of water. There is sufficient space to allow the viewer to walk between the tanks.
General Description
The surface of the water is normally stable but as the participant moves their hand across and above the tank, a microcontroller assess this movement and via a transducer produces a series of ripples and waves that gradually build in amplitude on the surface and then recede in time, waiting for the next interaction from the viewer. These waves and ripples are also accompanied by low, mixed frequency sounds from the transducers adding to the ambiance of the work. The waves that are generated are different each time and are dependent on the interaction of the viewer.
As the base of each tank is a reflective surface and because of the arrangement of the lighting, reflections and refractions from the ripples are thrown out around the space and onto the surrounding surfaces. The distinct and constantly moving tracts of light echo the waveforms produced on the surface of the water.
Installation Description
The installation consists of nine clear cast acrylic tanks 80cm square x 15cm deep with 3mm polycarbonate mirror bases. These tanks rest on hollow plinths approximately 80cm square by 30cm deep. The top surface of each plinth has a large diameter hole cut into it to allow the transducers to be placed in contact with the base of each tank.
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Each plinth houses a microcontroller, power supply, amplifiers and transducer. These modular units can therefore act independently or as a group and can be flexibly arranged in any configuration i.e. in a 3 x 3 formation as in this case or in line as another example. The particular configurations described allow the participants to walk inbetween and around the tanks. Placed above these tanks and at the appropriate angles are nine spotlights giving the required illumination for this installation. These spotlights are supported on twin lengths of 8mm cable stretched across the gallery and are spaced as appropriate. Reflections and refractions of light are cast around the installation environment dependent on the ripples being generated and how these ripples evolve and subside over time.
Technical Description
Each of the nine base modules are independently governed by their own programmed Scorpion K4s microcontrollers taking their input from the four phototransistor sensors contained in the base of each unit. This variable information is then used within the microcomputers programme to determine the starting ranges of frequencies, typically within 20Hz -10Khz and to set the amplitude and timeframe values of the waveforms being generated.
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The amplitude of the sound waves are also ramped up to their optimum operating range and then down again over a period of time based on the internal programming and viewer interaction. These frequencies are output to a 30W amplifier module and then to the transducer. As the transducer is in contact with the polycarbonate base of the tank the sound frequencies are propagated through the material and into the water creating a physical disturbance and facsimile of the sound wave in the water.
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Nine small, low voltage 50W dichroic halogen spots above the tanks of water and set at the appropriate angles, produces an array of moving reflected lights that are thrown onto the surrounding surfaces.