The Glow
Yushien, Orus Mateo Castaño-Suárez, Vitor Fiacadori Costa,
Zubin Isaac, Matthew Nazarian, Jessica Patel 2023
Yushien, Orus Mateo Castaño-Suárez, Vitor Fiacadori Costa,
Zubin Isaac, Matthew Nazarian, Jessica Patel 2023
Abstract
This installation explores the aesthetics of wonder through an immersive and responsive audiovisual environment inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Central to the installation is an 8' x 16' interactive projection mapped onto the stairwell landing wall, functioning as a dynamic visual core that evokes the fluid, luminous movement of the aurora.
The stairwell railing is reimagined as an interactive musical interface, transforming a functional architectural element into a site of sensory engagement and inviting participants to explore sonic feedback through touch. A second projection—diffused through a suspended tulle sculpture embedded with fiber optic strands—extends the immersive experience vertically, creating a layered atmospheric presence that responds to motion within the space.
By integrating sound, light, motion, and architectural features, the project investigates how everyday spatial contexts can be reconfigured into interactive environments that foster multisensory dialogue. The distribution of laser-cut star tokens further blurs the line between the virtual and physical, allowing participants to carry a tactile trace of the installation beyond its spatial boundaries.
Key Words: Immersive installation; Aurora Borealis; interactive media; audiovisual environment; architectural interaction; fiber optics; motion-responsive art; sensory design; spatial computing; ambient experience
Technical Setup
‘The Glow’ featured two interactive media systems: a dual-projector setup displaying an audio-reactive patch from Touch Designer, and a fibre optic cable array. The TouchDesigner patch builds on elekktronaut’s Particle Paths, is projected above the staircase and onto tulle netting, and responds to sound captured by a USB microphone hidden under the railing. Audience interactions like tapping the railing or stepping on the stairs changed the visual display. The fibre optic array, connected to a neo-pixel panel, altered its brightness and flashing pattern based on audience proximity, detected by a distance sensor. Complementing these visuals, a droning ambient audio track played continuously, creating a mood-setting sonic backdrop.
System Diagram