Into the Unknown
Ethan Bach
Into the Unknown
is an interactive video installation exploring feelings of trust and
fearlessness through movement. Participants are invited to walk into
a dark room; based on their movements, various patterns of light appear
and react in real time. Walking into a black room with no light is a
necessary challenge in order to discover what lies ahead. Into the
Unknown provides the viewer with a reward for taking such a risk.
Once the viewer meets the back wall light comes out of nowhere and begins
following the viewer around.
Into the Unknown
was created for the College of Santa Fe re-opening of the MOV-iN gallery
to reflect the new challenges ahead of the college after exchanging
hands. It is about going into the unknown, taking risks, and working
together to create something completely new and unique. As more participants
enter the installation and more movement is created the more unique
and rewarding objects of light that are revealed.
Each light is individually
recorded video that includes the moon, streetlights, a train, city lights,
a 3D generated star and others. These have been recorded over several
year’s time and experiments in working with light and video. The lights
are extracted from the background and an alpha channel is created to
allow for image layering.
Only two infrared sensors
light the room while a hacked PS3 eye camera monitors any activity in
the space. This activity is processed through customized software that
extracts the background image (the room) and reads each participant
as a blob. Several tracking points are created on each blob and the
video is mapped to each tracking point. As the participant moves throughout
the space the video either follows them or drops off to be attached
to another tracking point. When there is no activity within the space
it is completely dark.
Into the Unknown
was created with the help of Charles Veasey, programmer, audio artist
and long time collaborator, who just recently relocated to Santa Fe,
NM from Troy, New York. (www.charlesveasey.com)
Ethan Bach is an internationally
shown media artist living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Bach integrates his
documentary background with time-based interactive installations, web
based artwork, and new technologies in order to push the boundaries
of visual art practices. His work incorporates the taking of journeys
and the opening one's mind. (http://www.ethanbach.com/)
