Atom (image above, video below) and Electric Mo0ns, two aspects of the same developed interactive system, are a stunning performance and installation created by Christopher Bauder, Till Beckmann, Holger Pecht and Robert Henke. In Atom a:

Performance for a matrix of 64 gas balloons, lights, and sound.

A room is filled with deep, evolving noises from a four-channel sound system. An eight-by-eight array of white, self-illuminated spheres floats in space like the atoms of a complex molecule.

Through variable positioning and illumination of each atom, a dynamic display sculpture comes into being, composed of physical objects, patterns of light, and synchronous rhythmic and textural sonic events. Change, sound, and movement converge into a larger form.

The height of the helium balloons is adjusted with a computer-controlled cable, whilst the internal illumination is accomplished using dimmable super-bright LEDs, creating a pixel in a warped 8×8 spatial matrix.

In Electric Mo0ns there are:

A hundred white balloons in a completely darkened room are floating in space like the atoms of a molecule. They are moving up and down slowly and gracefully. The balloons appear as floating three-dimensional pixels arranged in a 10×10 grid…The interactive balloon ballet is built out of both synchronized movement and lighting. A screen-based interface commands the balloon ballet to move in sync to a chosen musical piece. The user can control the movement and lighting of each balloon independently. Morphing 3D shapes and patterns are blended with an overlay of supporting or counteracting light animations.

Within each version there is what looks like a max/msp interface (or something similar such as pd) controlling arrays of pulleys and led’s (image above, left and right). This type of artwork as installation or performance, a network of objects which perform / react / connect to each other or to a central point features quite heavily in new media art at the moment such as the work of David Rokeby, Nabaz’mob and Dialtones Telesymphony, the work of Ken Rinaldo, HC Gilje, Moody Mushroom Floor, Ping Genius Loci etc.