In its latest project, New York–based SoftLab has created a "circular constellation" in Manhattan’s Seaport District that emits sound and light based on human interaction on the site, according to a press release.
Dubbed "The Nautilus," the installation features 100 sensor-enabled glowing poles that emit different colors and sounds based on visitors' touch. For example, some of the colorful panels that top the poles become transparent when a visitor approaches, creating waves of light and sound.
“This collective behavior, while idiosyncratic, can be a beautiful choreography,” said SoftLab founder Michael Szivos in the same release.
Hoping to reflect the history of the Seaport District, Szivos selected the poles to evoke the masts found on many of the boats that sail through the East River, while the bright lights emitted from the poles suggest a hundred miniature light houses along the shore.
"The Nautilus" will be on display until September 10.
