The most memorable installation for me was Black Waves. Going against the norm of trying to impress, it was instead used to calm visitors down after witnessing the exciting Crows Transcending Space. From a technical perspective, it was also interesting trying to figure out how the waves looked realistic yet styled to remind one of Hokusai’s Great Wave. My group hypothesized that it could be 2 separate layers, one dark blue layer at the bottom with glowing blue lines flowing on the surface, and another white foam texture that reacts to the movement of the blue waves underneath. After a while we discussed about actually getting a panel for our own homes, then later realizing the calming effect wouldn’t work so well unless all three panels surround your vision. I also liked how they used slow music to enhance the effect. Without the music the perception of the work would’ve been different. It got me thinking about how sound can be used to provide context for the viewer for our iLIght installation.

I also liked the Crystal Universe exhibit, which was a simple idea with complex execution. Even without trying their interactive component that allowed one to create their own galaxy, it was enough to impress the viewer. Similar to Black Waves, I like how they wrap the viewers in their art, letting the viewers be fully immersed in the environment. The use of mirrors to give the feeling of an infinite space also added to the effect. It was surprising how size actually mattered when it came to installations.

During the Q & A our guide also talked about how their international team had to talk less and do more, showing prototypes or drawing sketches to communicate due to their language barriers. This was an important lesson for me because it made me realize that to convince someone of an idea, one must show a physical object or at least a sketch of it to let them have a better understanding of the idea so that they can contribute their own views upon it.