LO-04 Sound Art

Swarm Studies was created by Random International, a collaborative studio run by Hannes Koch and Florian Ortkrass. Swarm Study I is one of the first installations. It is made with LEDs and custom electronics. Each light source sensor is “imbued with a collective behaviour” that respond to sound. When a person starts talking or clapping the light sources swarm in the direction of the sound creating a mini-animated light show.

I admire this piece because of amount of iterations it creates. Every sound produces a different reaction. The piece is unique to each person; two people can create vastly different effects on the lights. I admire the commentary on the dynamic between people and their instincts. When people approach the piece, they are unsure of what it is and how it works. It is intriguing to see how long it takes them to understand and how they react once they do.

The creators’ artistic sensibilities are rooted in the piece’s simplicity. The straight-forward nature of the piece invites interactivity. The artists’ wanted to force their audience to understand their own consciousness. With Swarm Study 1 they’re able to highlight human instincts based on their initial interactions with the piece.

Source, 2010:
https://www.random-international.com/swarm-study-i-2010