January 14, 2004
a-volve
Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau's project
A-Volve will be in the upcoming show
eVolution. made in 1994, this installation allows visitors to
create creatures (virtual) that evolve within an environment of a glass pool of
water. the creatures will swim and behave based on its form and the forces of
nature, as well as the interaction of the visitors' hands. "Form and movement
are closely connected, the creatures capability to move will decide its fitness
in the pool. The fittest creature will survive longest and will be able to mate
and reproduce. If two strong creatures meet, they can create an offspring and a
new creature can be born. It carries the genetic code of its parents. Mutation
and cross-over provides a nature-like reproduction mechanism, that follows the
genetic rules of
Mendel. This newly born offspring will now also react and live
in the pool, interacting with visitors and other creatures."