Tag: remora

3D II 003 – Submission [KINAESTHESIA: Shamora]

Dear all,
this project is done by Sheryl and I. We researched on Shark and Remora, and the final work is an inspired piece of their relationship!

 

SHAMORA

 

The Making

As we have already documented in detail our process in the other OSS posts, this will only contain photos of the key contributing making process! 

We decided to focus on the 2 main senses of our avatar – Shamora: Touch & Sight

After much brainstorming, we finally settled on the fresh idea of WATERBED. The gentle waves of the water from within, determines the motion of the structure. This facilitates a sense of movement as u rest yourself on the waterbed. Because the shark has fluid and smooth movement, the water seemed as a great choice of material.

  

The PVC plastic was an ideal material to contain the water, and its high density allows it strength to keep the water in it. We then sealed the plastic 2-3 times for security.

We had put glitter and little crystals to provide a shimmering effect as the water moves. 

For enhanced user experience, we realised that only 2 layers would give a better sensation and visual effect. Therefore, we would repeat the process again to make another layer of waterbed! 

Adding on the lights – we used purple and blue cellophane papers and placed them at the light source. This gives amazing visuals as the water reflects light and it would seem as if it is glowing. 
We were inspired by this actually:

 

 

All in all, there were a lot of testing and failures, but all of that only led to improvements and ultimately a successful piece. We are proud of this whole learning experience! wink

 

The Product

The ferroxide rests scattered on the top surface of the waterbed, and only gathers when there is a magnetic force underneath (between the 2 layers of the water bed).

 

The Experience

The user experience could be said as therapeutic, gentle, and beautiful laughing 
From feedback, the colours from the lights contribute to a beautiful glow as if it’s from the water. This exciting visual gives reference to how the sharks could see in deep waters with their relatively better eyesight. The fluid waves of the water in the installation mimics the fluid nature in movement of the shark as well. Resting your hand on the water bed helps relax, as it is a very comfortable feeling.


The installation is interactive as it allows 2 people to come and play with directing the ferroxide with the use of magnet hooks. With the magnetic attraction, the ferroxide is drawn to the magnets, with a spiky appearance despite a soft texture. This shows how the remoras have micro hooks on their adhesive discs to attach themselves onto the sharks.

While interacting, your hand now works as a shark, while the ferroxide act as remoras which are attracted to you. They follow your movement, and leech onto your transport. This is a powerful and convincing demonstration.

 

Artists’ Statement

  

 

We absolutely love this piece of work! It hasn’t been easy at all, going through trouble with getting the right materials, trial and error for each stage of the making and spending late nights making them work! Yet, looking at the final display, it seems all worth it 🙂 

It was also a very enriching lesson, experiencing the other works by our classmates, as well as receiving valuable feedback and suggestions given by Ms Cheryl and her professional friends smile

We hope that eventually, this may have opportunity to be potentially expanded and improved into something of a larger scale, to reach out to a wider audience and perhaps also contribute to the society in terms of medical or awareness purpose! 

 

 

3D II – WK 10 [Installation In-progress]

This project is a joint work by Sheryl and I!

 

Research

The animals we decided to work on were Shark and Remora. They had a mutualistic symbiotic relationship. This means that both of them benefit from the way they interact with each other.

An avatar we worked out was: Shamora!

( infographic of shamora )

 

Ideation

It is amazing how from adhesion, we could link it to magnetism in ferrofluid as the main force in our eventual work. From hooks and velcro, we turned to water bed inspired by natural fluid movements, and then coming across the idea of attraction and then following into magnetism! 

We agreed that it is very interesting to use magnets to depict the relationship of sharks and remora fish, as well as to symbolise their kinetic movements.

 

Progress

We started on the making of our work by first DIY-ing our own ferrofluid!!! And there was a very dangerous ingredient – acetone yell We were so scared we put on gloves, goggles, masks and we did it at a relatively safe outdoor environment.

Materials required:
Big non acetone-reactive bowl
Cassette tapes (we bought them on carousell 1 for $1 yay)
Magnets
Acetone
Oil

 

We first removed the rolls of tape.

One by one unrolling them into the big bowl.

Tada. We estimated we needed this amount of tape to be reacted with acetone.

Finally, we added acetone into the bowl carefully and cover it. We left it to react over the night.

Collecting the reacted ferroxide!

It is reactive!

Ironing and sealing of the PVC plastic!

Sealing works!

 

Check out our videos on the making of our work!

Making of ferrofluid:

——- Progress till 4 Apr ——–

 

3D II WK 8 – Research: Sharks & Remora

SHARKS vs REMORA

  

 

Look at them being so harmonious and comfortable together…
The relationship between the two species is… Symbiotic – Mutualism 

 

Mutualism relationship:
The remora fish attaches to the belly of the shark by a sucker disc in it’s mouth. It travels everywhere the shark goes, with protection and free transport from the shark. It eats any parasites on the shark which helps keep the shark clean. It also eats any leftover food from the shark. The remora gets to eat and the shark stays clean and healthylaughing

 

…however, too many of these remora fish may cause the host to slow down significantly (causing similar effect to how barnacles are to whales), and this may cause danger!

 

Skeleton of remora (taken from the video link)

Front view. Skeleton of remora (taken from the video link)

Skeleton of remora (taken from the video link)

 

For more information:
http://www.leisurepro.com/blog/explore-the-blue/shark-remora-relationship/#

 

Specifically on Remora

2 key senses (adaptation) they rely for survival

  • SIGHT 
    To spot hosts and then attach themselves
  • TOUCH – Grip (To adhere)
    In the case of remora fish, there isn’t specific senses that are especially enhanced that they require for survival. In these fish, they have very distinct and unique adaption: suction plate. They use this to attach to host fish like sharks to benefit from them. 

Another special ability of them for survival is the ability to feed off parasites, meaning cleaning their hosts. This way, they feed from it, while helping the host fish. 

 

Range of motion

They adhere to host with their adhesive plate 🙂
They swim well with their fins and tails, in a sinous or curved motion.

 

Skeletal make-up

The remora’s suction plate is a greatly evolved dorsal fin on top of the fish’s body.
The fin is flattened into a disk-like pad and surrounded by a thick, fleshy lip of connective tissue that creates the seal between the remora and its host. The lip encloses rows of plate-like structures called lamellae, from which perpendicular rows of tooth-like structures called spinules emerge.
The intricate skeletal structure enables efficient attachment to surfaces including sharks, sea turtles, whales and even boats. (Georgia Tech, 2013)

Head of a young remora (Remora osteochir) 26.7 millimeter long as seen fron the (A) side, (B) top and (C) front. (Images: David Johnson)

In Feb 2015, NJIT researchers found that the adhesive disc on the remora’s head used to attach to sharks, rays and other pelagic hosts is actually a complex mechanism that includes a modified fin structure with teeny spikes (called lamellar spinules) that generate friction to adhere to the host. Remora head anatomy also differs from other fish in having unusually-structured blood vessels that may be the secret to how they maintain adhesion for hours at a time.

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2015-02-remoras-dont.html#jCp

 

FUN FACT
Did you know:  the name ‘remora’ comes from the Latin word mora, meaning ‘delay’ or ‘hold up’ or ‘totally annoy tongue-out

 

In-class Activity!

We had class in a dance studio where we demonstrated movement of our researched animal! Below are the results in terms of sketching:

 

Next, we did paper crafting according to movement and their special characteristics!
For my research on Remora fish, the sucker disc is the most distinct feature of it, therefore I depicted it with paper showing suction.
As the fish adopts free transport from the host fish eg. shark, it doesn’t exhibit it’s own swimming motion.
It swims to the current and to the movement of the shark, which is flowing (as shown below!)