Cook Strait 1962 Final Post

Man vs Sea.

My installation is about endurance, an endurance game. I want it to represent a form of Barry Devonports journey across the cook strait and his battle against the sea. Maori design is also incorporated because of the significance where it is doubted that Devonport was the first to cross but Hinepoupou instead. I want this installation to appeal and be achieveable for all ages, while still providing a challenge and providing learning.

Visual....the sea continues to move and rise and the user must force the sea downward to reveal images of the cook strait behind and furthermore reach the South Island to swim the Cook Strait and find out information. The visual also shows surprise encounters of sea life and flashes of emotion along this enduring journey. When the user stops interacting the sea slowly begins to rise up again and the "game" starts all over again. The maori patterns represent their great respect for the sea and the idea that the sea is trying to pull you in and down, an uncontrollable force.

Physical....the model is made to provide the user with resistance. With each pull you are bringing the sea level down and getting closer to land, activating left and right switches. The hook represents hei matau, a maori design representing safety over sea, this hook is meant to be your safety and help you reach land. I wanted to keep it simple and resistant enough for all ages. The hook rests on a box, representing the idea behind the museum...holding ancestors memories in a box.

Overall my installation provides a fun and challenging representation of Barry Devonports swim across the Cook Strait, the user will leave feeling satisfied, challenged and slightly in awe of this outstanding achievement of swimming across the Cook Strait.

Museum Setup

I envision my installation to work with the "box" inside the wall with the front flush and only the hook seen. The hook will be placed directly under the visual in the centre so it feels as though as they are pulling the hook they are pulling the sea and moving forward. The visual will be a large projected image on the wall, the visual is continually moving so will entice the user to come forward , feel the hook and lead onto pulling and hence starting the interesting results. This could work in any space.

Final

Preview of final interactive video....Swimming the Cook Strait 1962.

Model

Final Model, box with metal rod, spring and buttons which activate left then right clicks when the end hook is pulled

Final Quartz

Quartz patches...

1. my main patch...importing vide0, javascript all connecting up to mouse


2. My cook strait images patch, 40 different images all in order using a counter and conditionals

3. Other patch...with all extra imagery and particle systems

Right click action

These are the images that appear while right clicking including the fish/jellyfish/bubbles and red

Red

The idea behind the red flashes in my interaction is that these are sudden pulses of emotion that the swimmer and uses will get during such a huge task of endurance as swimming cook strait. It is a very abstract yet in some ways literal representation of emotion...red.

Suprises!

Underwater suprises I will try adding..possibly with a particle system, see how it looks with my other video/imagery as to whether it is too much or not. Just the type of things you are likely to encounter in the sea. Fish/Jellyfish/Air bubbles

Next Test

Testing my maori pattern and movement over my images, working in together

Maori Design

Played around with the growth of a maori designed arm tattoo. Represents the strength of man and its dominance over the sea as the arm of the man. Not sure if I will use it yet as it could be a bit too much with the other maori patterns also and is a tad rough around the edges! I like anyway!

Maori Design Images

Images put together to form arm tattoo and taniwha I was thinking of using, guardian and monster of the sea

Waves Video

Played with an image in After effects, chopped it up and moved it around to give sea motion, looking at as an alternative instead of the underwater video

Water Sequence Images

Water images used to create my animation

Maori Pattern Images

The images I used together to form animation video...