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Remain in Light is the visual representation of the analogue sound waves in our surroundings, which have been captured using an “electronic insect-collecting kit”. The process of collecting these wa-ves begins with a person carrying an insect net, which is attached to a device designed to capture the waves. The net functions as an antenna for catching and accumulating radio-wave data.

Today, it is possible to instantly get a lot of information from a great distance without physically moving around. Time and place do move, but aren’t in any relation to the body. Invisible data revolves in space and does not appear to be special because we can’t see it.

This work converts bits of analogue communication data, and allows the viewer to participate in the work by controlling the amount of “time”, “air space” and “place” in his/her viewing space. The viewer can see the results of the three processes that are used to capture these “electronic insects”. The first is discovering the “electronic insect”, the second is capturing the “insect”, and the third is converting the analogue data and presenting it in an inter-active environment.

Our world is filled with natural insects. However, in our modern society, there are fewer natural insects, while “electronic insects” or bits of sound data have replaced them. There are numerous oppor-tunities to collect these “electronic insects” in the city, but fewer in the countryside, because there are not so many man-made sounds.

In order to discover and capture these “electronic insects”, first we have to look for them in their natural habitat. Clues are necessary in order to find and “capture” them. For example I choose public areas, environment in which you can sense fragrances of dinner, see parked cars or a person standing in the street. These situations lead to and produce certain sounds. However, when I am in a city, I find situations and places that produce very different sounds. I have tried to capture these sounds on the basis of this information.

The viewer will understand that this interactive space is his/her visible environment — a replication of the world outside. This is a modern version of insect collecting. “Electronic insects” are collect-ed with a net that has been built beforehand, and is similar to those used to capture fireflies. The net is made of a cotton cloth that is of-ten used to cover windows to prevent insects from entering homes. However, my net was designed to bring “insects” inside.

In my interactive presentation, each “electronic insect” is represent-ed by a different colour. Each colour represents one frequency. Some sounds, such as radio data, are easy to capture, and therefore the visual representation of that data’s colour will appear more often. I hope that the viewer will notice that there is a greater amount of data of a certain colour, and much less of others — a reflection of the sounds heard in the city.

Will the analogue data become a thing of the past? Now, most communication data is digitalized, and the demand for analogue data continues to decrease. In fact, the data from the analogue cel-lular phones became an extinct species of electronic insects in Japan last year. The quality of analogue sound data seems to be inferior to that of digital data, but in fact, our real world is filled with analogue sounds. I feel it is important to include both digital and analogue data in our lives because it is more representative of the real world. Analogue data helps you to remember the past. It is my hope that there will be continuing demands for both analogue and digital data and that humans will realize the importance of both technological and non-technological interaction.

Collecting the real insects in the past, there was always a feeling I have found universal. “Electronic insect collecting” is a tool and a means of connecting the technological world to its prototypical experience.

Haruki Nishijima

 
















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