darkSky (2009) by Tiffany Holmes

darkSky is an interactive installation that consists of 30 salvaged table lamps with custom hardware and software tools that monitor the real time use of electricity. When all the lamps are on, the enormous quantity of light produced overwhelms the space. Turning all of the lamps off generates an animation of swarming fireflies that appears on two plasma monitors located behind the lamps.

In making this installation interactive, the artist invites viewers to choose the look and feel of the artwork: one that consumes large quantities of energy or one that does not. Both states are intended to be aesthetically compelling; it is up to the visitors to choose one or the other state. darkSky was recently on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, from April 4-26, 2009 and at Art Chicago from April 30-May 4, 2009.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ecoviz
• art
• interactive
• installation
• animation
• energy monitoring