»Sprache Sehen« 
Light Box
Light Box
© Alexander Pausch; Sprache Sehen, 1996-1998
[ Seeing Language, 1996-1998 ]
Computer-controlled interactive light installation
Polytechnic school Bregenz (AT), extension Baumschlager/Eberle, competition, realization 1996–8
12 light sticks with 64 LEDs each, microprocessor
Keywords
Information
Ruth Schnell >
»Sprache Sehen«, 1996 - 1998
Co-Workers & Funding:
Text content and language consulting: Veronika SchnellProject assistant: Martin Kusch
Electronics: Alexander Pausch
https://ruthschnell.org/en/works/sprache-sehen/
Technology
Hardware
12 light sticks with 64 LEDs each, microprocessors, eproms, control computer, terminal for direct inputMaterial
12 light sticks with 64 LEDs each, microprocessors, eproms, control computer, terminal for direct input
Descriptions & Essays
Ruth Schnell 25-09-2021
Computer-controlled interactive light installation
Polytechnic school Bregenz (AT), extension Baumschlager/Eberle, competition, realization 1996–8
[English title, 'Seeing Language']
In each of the three staircases of the new building of the HTL [polytechnic school] Bregenz, a light stick with red LEDs is installed in each of the four floors. From a word catalogue with 600 terms, 3 programmed "phrase machines", each assigned to a staircase, receive grammatically correct combinations of four words per day through random generation. The word catalogue contains keywords that exemplify the topic of fragmentation and re-composition of reality. It is created analogously to a language canon.
The 12 sticks generate a text that becomes perceptible to the observer only when she/he is in motion. The inertia of the retina is responsible for the sequences of words that seem to appear in the surrunding space – a meaningless "sign" suddenly becomes "language".
Using a computer terminal installed in the library, students can rewrite the text of one of the light sticks. Over time these "electronic graffitis" change the original text.
Ruth Schnell: Sprache Sehen, 25-09-2021, in: Archive of Digital Art Computer-controlled interactive light installation
Polytechnic school Bregenz (AT), extension Baumschlager/Eberle, competition, realization 1996–8
[English title, 'Seeing Language']
In each of the three staircases of the new building of the HTL [polytechnic school] Bregenz, a light stick with red LEDs is installed in each of the four floors. From a word catalogue with 600 terms, 3 programmed "phrase machines", each assigned to a staircase, receive grammatically correct combinations of four words per day through random generation. The word catalogue contains keywords that exemplify the topic of fragmentation and re-composition of reality. It is created analogously to a language canon.
The 12 sticks generate a text that becomes perceptible to the observer only when she/he is in motion. The inertia of the retina is responsible for the sequences of words that seem to appear in the surrunding space – a meaningless "sign" suddenly becomes "language".
Using a computer terminal installed in the library, students can rewrite the text of one of the light sticks. Over time these "electronic graffitis" change the original text.
Literature
Exhibitions & Events