Sophie Almy. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer- ‘Recordings’

Allowing the public to scientifically involve themselves within a project almost makes them a creator.

Walking in, one is automatically greeted by ‘Pulse Index’. This almost feels like signing in to the exhibition. Once a finger is placed into the sensor, your fingerprint joins the other viewers who have also done this regime. This allows microscopic vision to be formed into a photograph. The obscurity of the different prints pushes you to scrutinize them. Are you male or female? Where are you from? What did you touch last?

Image from http://www.lozano-hemmer.com/images.php

From here, the other installations take you almost around the physical body. From fingers to eyes to vocals. Once leaving this room, you are greeted by 100 hanging lightbulbs that pulsate to your heart beat. ‘Pulse Room’. A collection of peoples heart beat

’s make the bulbs flash at different times. What happened at the start of this installation when nobody had visited it? This collection of almost hanging bodies shows life, but what happens if a bulb smashes? Does this symbolize death? This is almost uncomfortable to think about when it shows how the body lives.

After sitting in this installation for a while, the bulbs continue to flash. As people use it, the light travels to its neighboring bulb. What happens when somebody has not inputted their beat? The bulbs continuously flash at the same station. Does this act as if the body can simply be moved along as if it is renewable?

Image from http://www.lozano-hemmer.com/images.php

Clearly, the body is used as the primary source of this installation collection. However, is it just the body that is under watch or our feelings too? Is it necessary to understand what the participant is feeling or scientifically is this just about interaction within a physical body?

By using technology it allows us to see how much we now need it. For example, the first installation of ‘Pule Index’. Places now need a fingerprint scan to validate who you are/what you need. As we become more reliant upon technology, it is now clear that older analogue methods are not needed.