transfluxa

The Transflux exhibit explores the themes of biomimicry and interconnectedness between inner worlds and outer worlds, between the largest (cosmos) and smallest (microcosms) realms known to humans. From bios, meaning “life,” and mimesis, meaning “to imitate,” biomimicry serves as a powerful tool for inspiring sustainable solutions to modern dilemmas by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and symbiotic strategies. Hybridizing the wisdom of plants, animals, and microbes with findings from disciplines like astrophysics, engineering, sociology, genomics, and cellular biology, the Transflux installations convey “living technologies” all within an ecologically minded framework.

As a living, breathing organism, Transflux is composed of natural and electro-mechanical systems formed from ancient and contemporary modes of art and technology. Both Coactive Systems and Vessels serve as variables that perpetually evolve in response to biometric and environmental sensors that translate elements such as human heart rate or local air quality. This contained “micro” experience serves as a springboard to view the exponentially dynamic “macro” outside world through new lenses. Deeper awareness of the connections amongst these scales of time and space can reveal the massive potential impacts we, as humans, have on our world.

From another perspective, though, we have absolutely no control over the largest scale — the macro that is the cosmos. The Orrery Harp acts as the constant in the equation that helps us absorb this fundamental truth; while visitors are able to influence Coactive Systems and Vessels, there is no option to change the Orrery Harp’s sonification of the evolving universe as it is fixed in a time scale beyond human control.