LIVE STREAMS 

In 2016 we started working on “Live Streams” project. We were interested in creating a fabric capable of surpassing its own physical presence; to somehow connect the object with an outside world. Thus, the wavy textile is designed to gather information about events and changes happening on sea hundreds of kilometers away and to respond to them. When a stronger gust of wind sweeps over the sea — the fabric reacts. When a wave rises with the storm, the fabric changes too.

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The nine meters of textile is handwoven on a traditional loom and comprise various kinds of yarn as well as optical fibres. Weaving, allowed us to construct the fabric from different materials that glow, reflect and shine — altogether imitating the fluid substance and behaviour of water. To add volume and depth to the fabric, two layers of fabric are interwoven during the weaving process. The nuanced waves of the yarns are accentuated by optical fibres, also woven into the material. Each one of these fibres is connected to an autonomous LED — using these, the fibres are lit up according to data that is received via the internet (wave height and wind strength). Depending on the incoming information, the flickering of light may, for example, increase with storm and calm down during a slight breeze. These delicate light reactions work together with the yarns to create an effect of a sea wave, the light gently playing on the surface of the fabric’s structure.

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The installation was presented in Tallinn, in HOP Gallery

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Year: 2016

 

Credits

Concept design and development:

Kärt Ojavee and Johanna Ulfsak

Electronics design and programming: Jaan Rebane

Sound design: Ajukaja

Graphic design: Jan Tomson

Space design and installing: Neeme Külm and Valge Kuup

Photos: Tõnu Tunnel

Weaving: Merilin Kruusel 

Supported by Eesti Kultuurkapital