Dancing with the Earth: Unveiling the Hidden Symphony of Seismic Movement through Art

Imagine an earthquake’s raw energy translated into the graceful movements of a dancer. Artist Melik Ohanian’s mesmerizing installation, “Earth Partitions,” bridges the gap between human expression and seismic activity, offering a captivating exploration of our planet’s subterranean rhythms.

Translating Earth’s Pulse into Human Motion

At the heart of “Earth Partitions” is a dancer equipped with two controllers that capture the subtle tremors of an earthquake seismogram. These controllers transform the seismogram’s data into a series of intricate movements, a physical manifestation of the earth’s hidden forces.

Visualizing the Dance of the Earth

As the dancer moves, a device converts their movements back into a seismogram, creating a visual representation of the dance. Two synchronized videos, one capturing the dancer’s performance and the other displaying the seismogram, are broadcasted on separate screens, inviting viewers to witness the harmonious interplay between human expression and seismic energy.

The Technology Behind the Magic

To achieve this captivating fusion of art and science, Ohanian employed two iRobota boards. The iRobota Micro reads accelerometer values, calculates a global value, and transmits it via Bluetooth to a computer. The computer calculates an angle based on a configurable ratio and sends a new value to the iRobota Uno, which controls a servo motor that rotates to the specified angle.

The Beauty of Imperfection

The mechanical arm’s flexibility and inertia create the distinctive outline of seismograms, while a simple motor pulls the paper at a constant speed. The result is a mesmerizing visual representation of an earthquake as reinterpreted by the human body, a testament to the beauty that can arise from the interplay of technology and art.

Bonus: Art and science have long been intertwined, inspiring each other to push boundaries and explore new dimensions of human experience. “Earth Partitions” stands as a testament to this synergy, inviting us to appreciate the hidden beauty and power of our planet’s seismic activity through the medium of art.

As we continue to unravel the mysteries of the earth’s movements, artists like Melik Ohanian remind us that science and art are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary forces that can illuminate the world in unexpected and awe-inspiring ways.