Yiannis Kranidiotis: Cyma {Fos}

Title:

Cyma {Fos}

Artist(s) and People Involved:

Medium:

Acrylic, Arduino, data driven kinetic light & sound sculpture, leds, motor, Raspberry Pi, screen, speakers & custom software

Size:

100x300x100 cm

Artist Statement:

Cyma {Fos} (from Greek: küµa, meaning “wave” and cpωʕ meaning “light”) is a real-time data-driven kinetic light and sound sculpture highly inspired by natural repeatability and wave movement. An array of light acrylic bars, connected only with a metal wire passed from the center, is hanged from the ceiling and reaches the floor. The bottom bar is rotating periodically and sets the whole sculpture in motion. The motion of the bottom bar is creating a wave that physically spreads from one bar to the other. Real-time data of the solar wind are defining the motion of the wave. The whole sculpture is waving without any mechanical force (except the bottom bar), in the natural fundamental frequency and in higher modes called harmonics in a hypnotic and mesmerizing way.

The movement of the sculpture is driven in real time by live data of the solar wind. The strength of the wave movement (amplitude of the modulation) is controlled by the solar wind speed and the mode of waves (fundamental or harmonics) is controlled by the north-south direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (Bz). A screen placed near the sculpture projects the data and movement visualization.
While the sculpture is moving, the horizontal bars light in various colors. The position, speed, amplitude and other properties of the wave motion are affecting the light patterns of the sculpture. At the same time, the sound is following a similar approach. There are 58 sinusoidal audio oscillators, each for every light bar, with different frequencies (from 50 to 150 Hz). The position of each bar is changing the volume of the oscillator. Additional sounds have been added to the final soundscape.