Outside of our visible spectrum of light there is a very big area of electromagnetic radiation. Scientifically it is light as well, as it consists of photons. The most dangerous part for the human being: gamma rays. They are characterised by a very small wave length and permeate almost all materials on earth. We cannot see them and generally only notice them when they are linked to radioactivity; when we deal with the consequences of atomic bombs and nuclear power plants.
In this project I try not to value the consequences of the exposure to it but I want to build relations to better understand it. Therefore, I use the principle of sonification in order to make live measurements of monitoring stations in Japan “audible”.
10 stations in Japan deliver measurements of radioactivity in their environment. Everytime there is a new value coming in, the according bell in my installation rings. With the AR-app you can read the latest values of each sensor and get interesting reference values for better understanding.
To create the highest possible tension between the layer of information you get when reviewing the measurements and the poetic installation itself, I used traditional japanese wind chimes. They make the installation appear fragile and subtle, while bringing the sound into the analog and thus making it more tangible and present for the viewer.
Data by: safecast.org
Supervision: Prof. Erich Schöls
6th semester - Interactive Media
ars electronica | campus exhibition, Linz 2019 36C3, Leipzig 2019 Designhaus auf der Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt 2020