DRONE

DRONE 2018 - OBORO Montreal

DRONE draws on research into the physical dynamics of insect flight and behaviour to offer a multi-sensorial installation informed by the integration of video projection with live immersive sound. The five minute looping video is produced by merging images appropriated from scientific experiments documenting the wing beat patterns of live bees with documentation of their robotic counterparts that are currently being developed by micro-robotics labs in the US and Japan.

The projection of light in collaboration with participants movements, produce a soundscape that is tuned to frequencies specific to the drone of bee flight and communication behaviours. This live soundscape is generated by custom electronics and sensors embedded in translucent fabric that acts as a series of projection surfaces and interactive sonic interfaces. As people circulate in the space, their movements periodically disrupt the projection of light, which influences the sound and beat pattern produced by the corresponding speaker. When participants are inside the structure they can no longer see the video images but are instead surrounded by a sonic experience that can both be heard and physically felt. This arrangement gives participants access to a speculative engagement with the tangible sonic experience of bee activities.

In recognition of technical support from Martin Peach, Michael Grant, Geneviève Moisan, Celina Legault, and for unnamed persons who developed, coded, assembled, wove or fabricated the software, hardware and materials that together, co-constitute this work. Grants and financial support from SSHRC, Hexagram, Concordia University, Textiles and Materiality, and ELEKTRA.