Emotional Aquatics
Inspired by Argentine writer Julio Cortázar’s
short story of a man’s emotional obsession with
aquarium life, Axolotl is about more than just an
algorithmically enhanced animation displaying
life-like traits from a fish tank. It’s also about the
responses it gets.
Photograph by Rob Ryan
NYU Interactive Telecommunications Program
(ITP) grad student Eyal Ohana, 35, came up with
the idea for Axolotl while brainstorming ways to
portray life — and instigate reaction — through
motion and form. Classmate Filippo Vanucci, 28,
joined forces for its physical and interactive implementation. The result is a 3D audiovisual display
attracting onlookers with a digitized squid-like
creature that responds to facial recognition by
simulating a sense of interaction and involvement.
To create Axolotl’s creature, Ohana and Vanucci
utilized the open source programming language
Processing 1.0. Each of the creature’s movements,
such as undulating and contracting, are subject to
physical forces like gravity and friction, but are also
modified with unpredicted values. This generates
non-repetitive, fluid motions similar to swimming,
giving it a 3D appearance. “We’re still waiting for
the creature to surprise us and do something really
stupid we didn’t teach it,” says Ohana.
The creature is projected onto a fish tank from
behind while an attached camera captures faces,
streaming them into the computer where OpenCV-based software detects each face and its position.
“Metaphorically speaking,” says Ohana, “our
creature can see.” It then reacts in one of two ways:
shy but playfully curious, or totally terrified — a
shrinking retreat that viewers seem to favor. Sound
texture correlating to the creature’s movements
adds ambiance. It was most recently shown at
Brooklyn’s MediaLounge festival in June 2009.
Responses are diverse. Some see Axolotl as
something funny and cute. Others try to trick it,
hoping for a sudden reaction. But one thing’s certain: for eliciting interaction, it’s a success.
—Laura Kiniry
Axolotl Video: eyalohana.com/axolotl
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