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Making several reactive shape-shifting objects in space – this is the recent open idea for my degree project.

I got inspired by an installation called “Dots Obsession”, 2004 by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, seen at the Berlin–Tokyo/Tokyo–Berlin exhibition at the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin. Big inflated blobs are suspended or free floating in space. The dots, the vibrant colours and the arrangement of wall mirrors have a very strong effect on the perception when inside the installation room.

Seiko Epson Corporation has developed the FR Micro Flying Robot, the world’s smallest (according to Epson’s research) flying prototype microrobot.
The first version was released in November 2003, the second lighter and more advanced successor version with an image sensor unit and bluetooth control was released in August 2004.

The company hopes it’ll be suitable for security, disaster rescue and space exploration. Well, maybe even for doing some degree project. A swarm of little robots flying in space? Why not.

»FR Micro Flying Robot
»FR Micro Flying Robot advanced version

In the course of doing some research about intflatable or shape-shifting objects, I got myself a very interesting book: Inflatable Art, Architecture and Design.
Inflatables surround a very special fascination, but they can have a very kitschy connotation as well. I’m interested in simple things, that are fascinating and understandable even for little children while at the same time not beeing too superficial or worn-out.

electric moOns, by Christopher Bauder, Till Beckmann and Holger Pecht is a large interactive 3D display. It consists of 10 x 10 helium balloons, that form the dynamic display sculpture. The user can control the movement and lighting of the balloons to a chosen musical piece.

micro.spheres is an installation of 16 autonomous robots in a room. The robots go by the rule to roll to the spatial center of the close surrounding. By means of this simple rule, the visitors can experience the complex interactions sensually.