Kinetic Light – IMA Documentation

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019

Kinetic Light Final Project: Re-shaping —— Skye Gao

Project name: Re-shaping

Professor: Eric Parren

Documented by: Skye Gao

Date: May. 23rd, 2019

Project Description:

Re-shaping is a kinetic collocation of lighting components which creates generative motions with mechanical devices. Contours of geometrical shapes are sketched out on a black canvas by illuminated led neon tubes, and will revolve in space with certain degrees by servo motors. The project is designed to shape people visual perception of patterns by constantly modifying the collocation of grids. With motions from 2D dimension to 3d dimension, the project intends to extend of boundary of shapes and explores the perception of space.

The project idea is largely inspired by artworks of two contemporary artists, Esther Stocker and Sebastian Hempel.

Esther Stocker creates spatial installations that manipulate people’s perception of space. Her ideas about space actually emerges from 2D paintings: in many of her words, the space are constantly reformed generated by perceiving lines or patched from different perspectives. In a reduced language of form consisting of black and white lines and grids, her works explore formal boundaries and spatial structures by creating a space where he viewer no longer can tell where the floor ends and the wall begins. Though her works are not kinetic, they demonstrate very well that the visual perception is a main factor for spatial experience, and is the main visual reference for my project.

The works of Sebastian Hempel are as full of movement as the spaces presented. In terms of works that concentrate on the motions with only installation. Those mechanical process have implications in terms of content, as all the aesthetic effects really on the motions of either installations or human movements. With a similar concept as Stocker’s work but demonstrate in a kinetic way, his kinetic light sculpture, Leuchtstabbild (Lightbarimage), is a representative way of how space can be reformed with motions.

Perspective & Context

Guy Brett approaches the concept of eye and body in his book by addressing that “the concentration on optic, the visual sense, as a vehicle for the exploration of movement and space/time, can be exploded, even from within visual are itself, by another tendency” (52). Such tendency, according to him, can be understood by and large as the separation of the visual form the other senses, or namely, the eye from the body. Through devices that “disturb, or manipulate, the body’s sense of space through a play the optic nerve”, kinetic art, allows for a “much more radical reorientation” of both out bodily experience and our thinking (52). In this sense, artworks by two contemporary artists, Esther Stocker and Sebastian Hempel, can be seen as various demonstrations of such concept of perceptual reorientation. Hence my project, drawn from the concepts presented by these artists, intends to be a experiment of both lighting and spatial motions.

Development & Technical Implementation

Materials:

1 * wooden background board
1 * painting easel
1 * Breadboard 144
1 * Arduino Uno
1 * USB A to B Cable
1 * 12V power adapter (350W)
1 * 5V power adapter
7 * flexible led neon tube (m)
8 * servo moto
8 * servo mount (small *large sizes)
8 * laser-cut acrylic grid
N * Jumper Cables (Hook-up Wires)

Pre-construction tests & material preparation

According to my project plan, my project mainly includes two parts: lighting components and mechanical devices (servo motors & holders). The lighting will be attached to the laser-cut holders according to the shape, and the holders will be attached to servo motors by servo mounts, which will be stabilized to a background board.

Since the lights only serve the purpose of illuminating shapes, I chose flexible led neon tubes as my lighting components. From my research, this kind of led lights can be easily formed into shapes and re-connected, and the lighting effect is suitable for display as it has a wrapper to diffuse the lights. I chose the thickness of 6mm considering the scale and effect of my project.

At the same time, I tested the servo motors that will carry and move the lights. There are two considerations for servos: the strength to hold and revolve the lighting units, and the components to connect attaching stuffs.

The servo motors I applied are 180 degrees Futaba S3003 and MG 996R since they have better strength and stability.

As for the attachment, I first build a servo mount prototype to test the strength and stability using robotic modules. The result turned out that the prototype was not very stable since it had too many attachment which could be loosen easily. Therefore, I took the suggestions from professor and fellows to ordered some servo motor as well as servo mounts online.

Latout design

While waiting for lights and servo motors, I proceeded to design the layout of my project. Drawn inspiration from Esther Stocker’s works, the idea was to using grids to divide the canvas and thus to reform people’s perception of space. Therefore, I only set some of the grids to be moving while others will keep still. It was a long process to settle down the positions for both moving and still parts with considerations that they will effectively change the formation of canvas and won’t interfere with each other at the same time.

The design process goes from physical to digital as I firstly use paper-cut lines to roughly sketch the layout on table, and then proceeded to settle the specific positions within Illustrator.

The scale of the installation was originally 1.8 * 1.2 m. However, considering the time duration of this project as well as the availability of materials and space, I scaled down my project to the size of 1.2 * 1 m and changed the layout design accordingly.

Design of layout change in Illustrator (1.8*1.2m version)

Design of layout change in Illustrator (1.2*1 m version)

Construciton preparation

After settled on the design, I started to prepare layout materials (including background board and acrylic holders). I found a dumped wooden board in wood workshop which can fit the size. With the help of Andy, I got to clean and prepare the board and proceeded to spray it black (as a backdrop for lights). After the background was prepared, I used tapes to mark the position of lights and servo motors according to the design.

I then laster cut out the gird holders with acrylic. I set some of them to be only outlines of the shapes, while others a plan in consideration of the movement with servo motor. To better connect the holders with servo mounts, I also cut out the screw holes according to the hole sizes on servo mounts/motors to stabilize the whole assemble.

Also, as the led tubes had arrived, I cut out the tubes according to the full length of the each of grids

CONSTRUCTION of installation, programming & final result

With all the materials prepared, I get to install all the components together to the background board. Firstly, I attached all the holders to the servo mounts, and attached them to the background board with hot glue. I also drilled some hole on the board the let the wires through.

Placement of servos and holders on background board

Then I attached all the lights to the corresponding girds with hot glue. However, the hot glue dried easily, so I further use super glue to attach them. The whole installation was placed on an easel for display.

With installation completed, I got to programmed the movement of servo motors. The movements were all 90 degrees based on their originally positions, and the order was designed to be perceived as random.

The final result was presented and documented within a totally dark space in Room 821. (Video shown as below)

Presentation

The final presentation took place in Room 823 during IMA show. Audiences were viewing the project from certain as expected. From my observation, audiences were very attracted to the lighting effects a as well as the periodic movements. They found the lightings very “beautiful” and the motions “unexpected”. Due to the dark environment and the strong lighting effect, the mechanism behind the lightings was hard to be noticed, which helped to concentrate on lighting effect and motions. Some audiences would approached to the installation to observe the mechanical movement, and would be surprised by some sudden moment as it was programmed to be random. Overall, audience could well perceive the changes of patterns, and the general idea was better delivered if with a little bit explanation.

Conclusion

The whole process of building this project went through a long time duration and was an integration of research, test, construction and modification. Overall I am satisfied with the outcome. Though it was not the scale as I expected in project proposal, I got my concept expressed to the most through this concentrated piece. In terms of the idea of motional space, there is much room for exploration based on this project. From feedbacks given by audience, it can be drawn that the perception of motion and space is not only influenced by shapes and lights, but can also be affected by speed and actions. For instance, with different moving speed of the grids, audiences had totally different feelings of space. Also, some different kinds of motions (e.g. smooth movement vs. shaking movement) add on different feelings of progress. Therefore, I feel like besides this project, there are many other perspectives for me to experiment in terms of motion and space.

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019

Project 3 Documentation: The Trailing Snake – Ying

The Trailing Snake 🐍

Project Description

The Trailing Snake is a kinetic light sculpture that mimics the movement of a snake. This project is inspired by a Greek artist named Vassilis Hatzopoulos. One of his element that I will take away is his automata mechanism which moves along stationary strip object back and forth. The mechanism involved several circle plates that are connected by a metal rod through a hole on the plate close to the edge. These plates will then rotate at a different degree based on where the plates are tilted towards. There will be shorter metal rods stick up vertically which will be the supporting ground for the light. The vertical rod will then move based on the plates with different positions which will then rotate the vertical rod on different angles

The goal of this project is to move around a long strip of light as I called it the snake. Since I want to move the light quite frequently, I need to find a type of light that is flexible enough so I settled on the flexible neon light. Another goal of this project is to create a complex automata mechanism that creates multiple different movements from one single movement type. In this case, I will be using the stepper motor to create different swinging movements of different angles.

Perspective and Context

Guy Brett writes in the Kinesthesia that “It is not a movement in itself which is important but the intensity with which a work can reveal space, time and energy”. This quote matches the purpose of this project in creating something that is not only physically moving but also reveals the sense of space and energy. Such space can be revealed by the use of material around the light. For the project, I planned on using a reflective material underneath the light which will reflect off the light. This will then reveals the surrounding and as the light moves in different positions, the surrounding space will then react differently.

Despite being a stationary object, meaning that it doesn’t actually move. The sculpture will still reveal energy as it mimics the movement of a snake and the light enhances that trait further. Lastly, the project is based on the adaptation of nature and specifically the movement of a snake. This project will give the audience the impression of a moving snake.

Development & Technical Implementation

I started off making the project will a design drawing and figuring out what components I need to purchase on my own.

The following components are what I need to buy: two metal rods 48 cm length (0.5mm diameter), two shaft bearings (0.5mm inner), six rods 16 cm length (0.3mm diameter), neon flexible led.

When I got most of my components, I made the platform of my installation with the laser cut. The platform will be a long box that is 48cm in length 6 cm in width and 5 cm in height. I created the design with casemaker and modified it on the illustrator to add the holes for my bearing. For convenient, I glued the top and the bottom with one panel from each side. This way, I can reach inside and make changes easily. After I glued them together, I added the bearings on the far side of the panels.

With the laser cutter, I also made the plates that will move my vertical rods that is supporting my light. These are glued together with 3 in order to form one single plate. These will fit perfectly into the long horizontal metal rod.

The installed the stepper motor on the side of the panels near the bearing. On the motor, there are 4 holes for the screw so I measure the length against the panels relative to the bearing and the metal rod. I made the holes with the electrical screwer. Then 3d printed the gear. Since the stepper motor is D-shaped, I need to modify the hole so it can fit perfectly.

I made another gear that is slightly smaller in size and in circle hole that fits perfectly into the metal rod. I then tested the motor by connecting it to the Arduino and using the code from the example (speed control).

As you can see, I made an outer layer that is made out of wood with the laser cutter which I thought gives the contrast from the reflective material that I will be using later for the surface. I cut a square-shaped hole so I can put through all the connections.

In order to fit in all my connections, I made the wires about the same size to save space and to make debugging easier.

After I tested out the motor, I will install the vertical rod with a supporter that made with 3d printer through Sketchup.

In order to put them in place, I will lay some hot glue next to the side so it doesn’t move around. After putting them in the correct spot, I will align the plates in the same location accordingly.

These vertical rods will be put in place against the place with a rubber band that I got from leftover clothing.

I tested out the motor against to see if the whole mechanism work well and like as I expected it did.

The last thing I needed for the project is the light and the reflective surface. For the surface, I got the material from a senior that she left over from her capstone. I will be laser cutting it out with cutouts so that the vertical rods can go through.

As you can see, I used the el wire at the end which I will explain later in the presentation part. But one of the difficult that I had is with the light. Even though the whole mechanism went smoothly, the light that I bought just wasn’t flexible enough. The el-wire could almost be moved, but still, it wasn’t enough. I just wish that I could give my self more time on the installation of the light.

Presentation

I remembered when Eric said to me that it looked like a struggling snake and it did. The light is struggling to move and I don’t think it was the motor having a lack of power. The audience knew what it was: a snake, but the light wasn’t quite like a snake yet. There wasn’t much criticism except for the fact that the snake isn’t moving as it should. Nick didn’t know what went wrong exactly as I worked with him on the project several times. I thought that there is more rubber needed in the opposite direction and the light should be more flexible. Also, the measure of everything like the cut out for the surface should be more precise. The final effect of the light should look like this.

Conclusion

Although the light was a disappointment and a failure, the creation of the mechanism was still a success. What I learn from the project is to give equal distribute the time equally so I can give enough attention to each part. When creating a plan for a project, time management is a very important part because it determines whether a project is achievable in a certain amount of time. Also, I should think about an alternate plan that works well if the original plan doesn’t work. What I realized after the project is that I could make better use of the mechanism such as having long el wire dropping down and controlling the height and the speed with the mechanism I created. Something like that would be a much better substitute instead of something that partially works.

Nick told me that I should keep everything clean so that it is good to present. Since I have the reflective panels as one of the focal points of the project, I should keep better care of it and not have any specks of dirt on it. Overall, I was a bit too confident in that the light will definitely work out at the end which it didn’t.

May 23, 2019February 12, 2020

Kinetic Light Final Project: Rip–Eric(Candy)

Title: Rip

Project Description:

Rip is a kinetic light project, built and developed upon the idea of “abstration art” and “time and speed”. Audience should experience Rip in a room of total darkness so that people can get a more direct idea of space rip as the light appearing and disappearing. The project is intended to be self-explaining and intriguing with its movement and basic shape of rects.

Rip is of a easel scale. It is two-layered with the bottom layer of light source and the top layer of lots of rectangles forming a puzzle plane to prevent the light. Light source are digital light stripe. Lights are coded according to different rectangles. They are intended to form different light patterns with the movement of the rectangles. Kinetic part of the project is conducted by 12 solenoids which are coded to push back and force to control how many lights are shining out round the shape of the rect being pushed out (how thick the light strings are). The time and speed of pushing out the rects are somewhat random. Which rects are pushed out is also unexpected by the audience. There would not be any music except for the sound of soldnoids.

Continue reading “Kinetic Light Final Project: Rip–Eric(Candy)”

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019

Spinning Star by Lily

Description

My project is a spinning object that imitates the star lights. I got inspiration from Jose Manuel’s artwork. This art piece is stationary, with different layers lit up at a different time. I want to make a similar sculpture with three layers of stars which can spin. And there are changes of lights in every layer over time.

It was too hard for me to make three layer spin at a different speed since the connection of slip rings and the layers is very complex, so instead I chose to make the whole sculpture with three layers spin as a whole. I also soldered three parts of led strips together so that I will only need one slip ring to connect them to the circuit. Correspondingly, I will use code to control different sections of lights to have varying effects, like bouncing dot or rippling light effects.

Perspective and Context

I want to put the audience in a space-like surrounding where the stars are flashing by. What’s more, I also express that the whole universe is spinning continuously by using a motor underneath the object.

The kinetic part is mostly the spinning of the motor, but actually the changing effect of lights is also a movement visually. So I combine these two parts together in order to achieve a more diverse movement, where the stars are flashing by and they are also asters revolving around us.

Development and Technical Implementation

———————————— Physical Part —————————————-

- First I laser cut the smallest star on the top with a sample code with rippling effect online. https://pastebin.com/LfBsPLRn

- Then I laser cut the two bigger layers under it. In order not to waste acrylic material, I tested whether it worked on wood pieces. The fingers connected quite well, so I used acrylic material to get the final layers.

- After gluing every piece together, I tested whether the DC motor I bought fit into the hole I cut. It turned out the layer can move with the motor quite well.

- The next step is to solder the three parts of led strips in every layer together. I also counted the numbers of pixels in every part in order to control them separately later in the code. In this way, the three layers can be glued together.
- The last physical part was to connect the strip and the motor to the circuit. I encountered the problem that the wires from the strip would be tangled together unless I use a slip ring. With a slip ring, I can make the side with the motor (the part underneath the whole object) stationary, while the side with the led strip can spin freely. However, I didn’t get the essence of how it functions until Eric explained to me several times and about how to connect it. A huge thanks for his patience.

- More importantly, I cut a big acrylic box to hide the circuit and stabilize the slip ring. And there is also a hole on one side of the box to connect the power. Finally, the whole object was able to spin!

———————————— Code Part —————————————-

Since I want three layers to have varying effects, I first added a composition where every separate layer will be lit and fades out in sequence. Then I added a dot bouncing from the bottom to the top of the object. The third effect is accumulating orange and yellow color dots from the top. In the end, I put the edited version of the rippling effect I found online.

The link to the complete code: https://gist.github.com/lilyunverwundbar/99b6c4c0fbabae06896b81a9dc09cffa

The link of the reference: https://pastebin.com/LfBsPLRn

Presentation

When I show this project in class, the best thing was nothing about the circuit or the code went wrong which happened a lot to me. The feedback was mainly about the scratching sound it makes. The sound results from the unbalance of the object which touches the lid of the box beneath it. Nick suggested that I use a ball bearing to lift the downward side up. I used it during the IMA show, the sound was eliminated but the object would be stuck after some time spinning.

What people liked about my project is the light composition, especially when the orange and yellow lights are accumulated gradually toward the bottom. I was glad to know that they thought the change of light was beautiful. I also like it when people gave me different ideas about what the object is since I didn’t think of a certain thing to name it.

Conclusion

- Be more realistic about what you are going to make. Initially, I want to make three layers spin at a different speed, so I bought three motors and slip rings. But after I had a long talk with Eric, I decided to merge three layers together instead. Because if I want to do so, I cannot stick three layers together and I don’t know how to display the whole object in that sense. Also, I need to stabilize every slip ring with a small square box.
- Think about details earlier. I didn’t realize I have so many specific things to pay attention to until I talked to Eric. The connection and stabilization of the slip ring, the connecting part between the motor and the slip ring, etc. This also means start doing the important part earlier so that I can encounter the problems earlier.
- Having a production schedule is helpful. Although I adjusted the schedule several times due to the change of my idea, I still benefited from having a clear timeline in the last two weeks. In this way, the work will be more organized.
- What I am most proud of is that I finally figured out how to make the connection of slip ring with the object more stable, using a 3D printed connector and a hole on the lid of the box to let the slip ring wedge into it.
- For future development, I would definitely add more layers to it so that I can play with more changes of light.
- Lastly, I really appreciate IMA fellows for giving me advice, especially Andy who helped me so much with 3D printing. And of course, huge thanks to Eric who helped me with laser cut and suggestions on the physical part of my project and my code.

May 23, 2019May 23, 2019

Final Project: Alice and the Rabbit Hole – Rosie (Parren)

Name Rosie Gao

Instructor Eric Parren

Title
Alice and the Rabbit Hole

Project Description

Alice and the Rabbit Hole is a kinetic light project portraiting the scene of Alice chasing the rabbit into the rabbit hole at the beginning of the story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The project uses 3D printed and laser cut components to form the motion part, and Arduino to form the light part.

As shown in the video above, the user can spin Alice and the Rabbit using a handle, forming a chasing and falling effect between the two characters. The spiral pattern on the platform below is also for creating a hypnotizing feeling while spinning. By looking through the platform and into space between two characters, the user can see changing candy-theme lights sparkling, just like when Alice looks down the rabbit hole seeing a vague image of the mysterious wonderland.

Perspective and Context

I choose this scene in Alice’s Adventures in the Wonderland because of my personal connection to this part of the story. Alice chases the rabbit into the rabbit hole, jumping into a whole new world with unexpected dangers, challenges, chaos and adventures and escaping from reality. I feel so related to Alice’s confusions, hesitations, excitement, and amazement of the moment she stops in front of the rabbit hole and watches the lights coming out of it, which is the so similar to my own fears and hopes while stepping out of my comfort zone and making reckless decisions as an individual, a young 20 in my life. I would like the users to feel the same while experiencing my project, as they spin the handle, they understand how beautiful the wonderland might be but also how dangerous it could be.

Development & Technical Implementation

I: Structure Design

The original design of the project is a zoetrope-like device with Alice spinning in the circle and with the torch in her hand as the center light source. The torch releases a shoot of light creating a rabbit-shaped pattern on the “Woods” around her.

However, while producing the project physically, I encounter the difficulty of design as if the light is on the spinning platform, the circuit should be spinnable, which requires much more precise calculations on the arrangement of structure. As I divide the production process into two parts, motion and lights, I decide to use a more flexible way to express the Alice scene by putting Alice at one side of the platform and the rabbit on the other side. Inside of coming from Alice, the illustration is put from below the platform using RGB LED stripe. Also, since the location of light has changed, the platform below Alice is also changed from wooden to transparent material.

Final Outcome on the platform: Alice and the Rabbit facing each other

II: Color Decision

code

The code above controls the colors of RGB LED light. I mainly choose this set of the light blue, pink, green and white color group for the art style inspiration I get from Alice’s Adventures in the Wonderland adaptation produced by Spicy Horse Studio “Alice: Madness Returns”, specifically the underwater scene. It gives me a feeling of illusions and mystery, which fits the expectation of my project. To add on the effect, I use the leftover of my midterm project, the transparent glass paper around the LED stripes to make the color outcome more interesting and attractive.

Alice: Madness Returns (Under Water Design)

Different from the colorful fairy colors I used in the light part, I am using only black white and grey in the design of the physical part, including Alice in black, Mr. Rabbit in white, the platform in white and transparent, the spinning part in black and the circuit box in grey. I would like to show the contrast between reality and the wonderland and also, the yes or no decision Alice is facing. (Pictures can be seen above)

III: Make Alice and Make Alice Spin

3D print plays an important role in this project and is the main challenge I face with as this is the first time I have ever worked with 3D print techniques and almost all the components in this projected are 3D printed in my design. I find the footage of Alice and the rabbit model from Yeggi, but making Alice spin on the platform takes more efforts and time than I planned. Originally I was going to use a stepper motor, however, I eventually decide to add interactivity elements into the project as users will automatically stare into the rabbit and feel the spinning effect from a first-person perspective when they use the handle. Also, I am excited by the “A-ha” moments of the users when they find out the functions of my project.

Among all components, the rotary axis causes the most problems. I originally printed out a plastic stick but it turns out to be unstable and easy to break even I print it three times in different sizes. I end up using screw according to Eric’s suggestion which works out perfectly. The design of gears is also new to me, as the gears are working in different dimensions to transfer the actions of users into Alice’s movements.

Presentation
In the class presentation, I get many suggestions that help me to improve my project before the IMA show. The biggest problem is that since I have changed the light source from above to the bottom, the models above the platform would not be seen as clear if the project is presented in dark rooms. Also, the height of the project affects the angle users are looking into the lights, which are also a bit too bright since the LED stripes are facing out. I am actually unsatisfied in my performances in class presentation, as I was not giving strong enough responses when I am asked “why”s by my classmates.

During the IMA show, I had a wonderful experience hiding among the users and observing their reactions. The biggest problem is that it takes time for users to find out the project is spinnable thought the handle, which is also pointed out by my classmate in class presentation. I was thinking of making the handle bigger, but it turns out putting a note around saying “try the handle” will also work. It is the best thing seeing the surprised faces of the users when Alice starts to spin and hearing users explaining their understandings to each other. When a girl shouts out: “Hey, look, Alice is chasing the rabbit”, I smiled so big that a lady beside me immediately asks me if I am the one made it.

Conclusion

When it comes to the production process, I am not in full control of the design of my projects, all the obstacles and problems I ran into have shaped my original design totally, though in a good way, but also caused chaos to my schedule. This is because I did not make the model design precisely enough and did not leave enough space for testing to make the schedule flexible.

For presentation, I have learned from the presentation in class and improve my ways of presentation in the IMA show by making modifications in heights, light balance and instructions, which I could have worked on earlier. I think the most important thing is to think about all the details and give out reasons for every decision for more controls in the project itself. When you are sure about your project, the project itself will also be more touching to others.

As a conclusion, I am happy with the where I have reached in this project, but I can definitely do better and do more. The project itself has fully expressed what I want to make and show my audience, but it takes more works than I need to reach this point. For future development, I would like to add in a light source from above as a stage for Alice’s decision or create something according to my original design.