what we share that we can not see
What we share that we can not see
2024
Two stations; each stations contains an iMac, digital stethoscope, headphones, score, audio reactive software program built with MAX MSP
About the work
What We Share That We Cannot See is an interactive media installation
incorporating participants’ live heartbeats. Two technology stations, each
equipped with a computer, digital stethoscope, headphones, and custom software
I designed, are positioned within stand-alone alcoves adorned with velvet
curtains and soft stools. The installation enables two participants to create an
interactive feedback loop using the sounds of their bodies.
Each person, seated at a station and unable to see the other, puts on headphones, places the stethoscope on their chest, and engages in a self-guided breathing practice. On their screen, they see a visual representation of their heartbeat on the left and the other participant’s heartbeat on the right. Both heartbeats are audible through the headphones, forming a live exchange of physiological data. This communication is rendered both as sound and image, fostering an intimate connection between the two participants.
The visuals on each screen consist of red and blue dot patterns, pulsing waves in an abstract flower-like shape whose lines expand and flicker in response to the heartbeats, creating a dynamic and responsive visual display. The process is sensitive to each participant’s physiological input, encouraging them to find stillness and observe the subtle rhythms of the other person. Listening to another person’s heartbeat creates an intimate and shared experience. The installation adapts to the unique physiological inputs of each participant, making each interaction ephemeral and dynamic.
The installation explores the theme of interconnectedness through a dynamic and participatory experience. Can we be in sync even when we are physically apart? The piece relies on mutual dependence, requiring two people to engage for it to be complete. It creates a feedback loop where participants exchange heartbeats and communicate through sound and image, fostering a tangible connection. While the work is robust and resilient, it also adapts to the unique qualities of each participant, reflecting the variations in their heartbeats. The complexity of the technology used, and the unpredictable nature of human interaction contribute to the emergent properties of this installation.
Each person, seated at a station and unable to see the other, puts on headphones, places the stethoscope on their chest, and engages in a self-guided breathing practice. On their screen, they see a visual representation of their heartbeat on the left and the other participant’s heartbeat on the right. Both heartbeats are audible through the headphones, forming a live exchange of physiological data. This communication is rendered both as sound and image, fostering an intimate connection between the two participants.
The visuals on each screen consist of red and blue dot patterns, pulsing waves in an abstract flower-like shape whose lines expand and flicker in response to the heartbeats, creating a dynamic and responsive visual display. The process is sensitive to each participant’s physiological input, encouraging them to find stillness and observe the subtle rhythms of the other person. Listening to another person’s heartbeat creates an intimate and shared experience. The installation adapts to the unique physiological inputs of each participant, making each interaction ephemeral and dynamic.
The installation explores the theme of interconnectedness through a dynamic and participatory experience. Can we be in sync even when we are physically apart? The piece relies on mutual dependence, requiring two people to engage for it to be complete. It creates a feedback loop where participants exchange heartbeats and communicate through sound and image, fostering a tangible connection. While the work is robust and resilient, it also adapts to the unique qualities of each participant, reflecting the variations in their heartbeats. The complexity of the technology used, and the unpredictable nature of human interaction contribute to the emergent properties of this installation.