Interactive Digital Installation on Movement and Vortex

Moving creates vortices and vortices create movement. Created by Japanese collective Team Lab for the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. The installation starts to react when a person moves, a force is applied in that direction. As a result a flow occurs. When a fast flow occurs a rotation phenomenon is produced due to the difference in the flow velocity around it, creating a vortex.

Flow in the artwork is expressed as a continuum of numerous particles and the interaction between the particles is calculated. Lines are drawn according to the trails of the particles. The cumulation of lines that represent the work are then “flattened” in line with what teamLab considers to be ultrasubjective space.

The faster the person moves, the stronger the force is applied in that direction. If a person is not moving or there are no more people, no flow will occur and nothing will be present in the space.

Works are born and continue to transform under the influence of people’s movement.

In the ocean, complicated terrain such as an island produces flow velocity difference and a vortex is generated. Vortices swirl up the carcasses of organisms sunk to the bottom of the ocean, producing nutritious seawater. This becomes a source of nutrition for plankton to grow and nourishes the sea life. Vortices therefore contribute to enriching the ocean.