Infinity

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To Infinity is an immersive audio-visual art installation, which toys with the human perception of space and infinity. This project consists of two main components. The visual component is a mirrored infinity box and the second is a binaural ambient composition. The project's motivation, materials and results are outlined below.

Motivation

This project began with the development of a mirrored infinity box, which takes inspiration from the work of Yayoi Kusama (see the below image of Love Forever).

Yayoi.jpg

Although my installation provided an engaging visual experience, I felt that something was missing. To Infinity is an attempt to develop my previous work to produce a fully immersive audio visual experience. Introducing a synchronized binaural composition will enhance the viewer's experience of the vast visual space, which is created within the infinity box.

Materials

Infinity Box

The visual component of To Infinity is a 1'x1'x2' wooden box. The inner walls of the box are mirrored and a set of 128 programmable LEDs are adhered to the boxes ceiling. A 2" diameter view finder is cut into one face of the box. The lights are controlled using an Arduino.

External view of infinity box Internal view of infinity box

Binaural Composition

The audio component of To Infinity is currently being developed. When completed, it will be a binaural composition leveraging the microKORG virtual analog synthesizer for all audio material. Binaural panning is achieved through IRCAM's SPAT for Max/MSP. Individual audio layers will be panned and recorded using a custom Max patch, and subsequently arranged in Logic 9.

This composition will draw inspiration from ambient works (such as Brian Eno's Apollo) and synthesized textures found in the Stranger Things soundtrack. My goal is to compose a pseudo-palindromic piece, which expands from a single point into a vast soundscape and back to a single point. Thus, To Infinity will be an infinitely looping audio-visual art installation with no clear begin or end.

Results

Current Progress

The visual component of my project is fully constructed and ready to be programmed. I am in the process of gathering and composing audio for the composition. Furthermore, I am experimenting with SPAT and developing Max patches that will allow me to pan and record binaural renderings of my audio material.

To Do

In order to complete To Infinity I will need to complete the following tasks:

  • Finish collecting audio and arranging piece in stereo
  • Implement finishing touches on binaural max patch
  • Pan and rerecord audio material
  • Program infinity box LEDs