Min Kwak
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3D Art Installation (2017)
This installation simulates a status of vivid dream. While we are sleeping, there are moments of dream that sparks creativity or enlightenment. During those moments, human brainwave is as active as when they are awaken, or even more. Gamma wave happens when human brain has a heightened perception, this can be called “Aha moment.” This installation is reacting when Gamma wave happens in user’s brain, simulating this dream of creativity.
Three wooden wheels are spinning along with user’s brainwave. Top one is reacting per time when user’s brainwave is in relaxing mode (below 13Hz), and the middle one is spinning when in a range below 12Hz (below Alpha wave). The third wheel signifies Gamma wave, spinning when it’s above 30Hz, the spark moment coming during this relaxation or sleep. I used EEG headset to measure user’s brainwave, to deliver Hz number to the computer in real time. And in computer, Arduino code was programmed to move the connected motors when the number of brainwave is in a certain range. One regular servo and two continuous servo motors were used, and I attached them to wooden wheels.
EEG Headset
An electroencephalogram (EEG) detects electrical activity in brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to the scalp. I used Mindflex brainwave sensor, disjointed it, and rearranged it to send data to the computer.
3D Modeling and CNC
I 3D modeled three wooden wheels in Rhino, and used CNC machine to carve them. The shapes symbolize dreams are generating and radiating.
Facilitating User Experience
In order to guide users to the dream simulation process, I created a simple website. This website has several pages indicating each step so that users could follow them and share feedbacks after finish.
+ Website