How do we bring the seagulls and the experience of the seagulls to life? Some short video documentation of spinning feathers – quite theatrical – with some very interesting sequences / possibilities etc. Using cheap motor (salvaged from a broken DVD player) and a few feathers, it is amazing the effects that can be created. Tech set up quite simple – DC motors coupled to feathers controlled by Arduino. With more geared motors the motion could be more controlled and more elegant.
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In terms of parameters this set up could give us motion / speed / density (i.e. how many feather are spinning as a fraction of total feathers) and if we add lighting / shadows that could be another variable – possibly introducing colour too. These feathers could allow for waves / flocking / swarming type behaviours though there is no reason that it would have to be like this…there are lots of possibilities to explore. Also, there is a surprising (or perhaps not so surprising) breeze produced by the motion producing an unexpected extra sensual dimension to the physicalisation.
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