shadow cutting scissors |
|
|
AbstractThe shadow-cutting scissors works in an interactive installation and establish the illusion of cutting, transforming and so manipulating the shadow, by using the shadow-cutting scissors. |
Plato and the occidental way of thinking, enhances the shadow with a lot of metaphorical meanings. It seems that they overload the shadow in sense of what the shadow is physically able to provide. In defiance of optical laws, which are shadows obvious following, it could be it’s inapprehensible, elusive appearance, who let the shadow associate with something unreal, barely comprehensible. Probably because of that reason we compare the shadow with the unconscious and unknown, which we seem to be attached with.
The possibility of reshape the shadow challenge the fixed relation between object / shadow. Therefore the interactive installation gives the audience a chance to play and rethink the normally fixed dualities object / shadow, and furthermore object / picture. So that out of a monolog, were shadow always follows the object, now a time based dialogue follows, in which the shadow will be communicate with the audience and the object itself.
The shadow-cutting scissor works in an interactive installation. In this environment a pair of prepared scissors is able to cut the shadow of one cube. Although it seams that a lamp standing beside the table throw the light on the cube, in fact a hidden beamer on top of the installation throws the shadow, down onto the table. A video camera placed beside the beamer, records the movement and captures the position of the scissor, which is enhanced with infrared Led’s and one reconstructed IR, wireless mouse.
With this information a computer generates the manipulated shadow, based on a program written in Director, in order to establish the illusion of real time editing of one shadow, by using the prepared scissors.
The scissors prepared with positioning system and angel detection. Positioning system was realised with tree infrared led’s so that the video tracking could find the vector and also the orientation of the scissor. Led’s and batteries are fully integrated in the top of the scissor, so that only the led heads were visible. Angel detection was realised by resemble an infrared, wireless mouse. This was necessary to get the information how much the scissor is closed or opened, by moving a piece of plastic over the infrared detection field of the mouse. Not used things from the original mouse were subtracted, so that is was able integrate the mouse in the bottom part of the scissor.
It was important to prepare the cube; otherwise it would be visible that the shadow is coming from the top and not from the side. Therefore it was necessary to simulate the light situation and then to photography all five visible sides of the cube. So that the cube could be rebuild photorealistic images of the real light situation.
The software is completely programmed in Macromedia Director and consists of two parts. One is the video tracking of the shadow cutting scissors by using infrared positioning led´s on top of the shadow-cutting scissors.
The other one is the graphical part, were the program, based on the tracking and angel detection information is writing white space into the black surface of the shadow. Throught this calculation the software is able to draw lines, and to cut out space who is already surrounded by white lines.
Concept and realisation: | Dominik Schumacher |
| Semesterproject |
Institution: | |
Production date: | SS 04 |
Professors: | |
