‘hidden kingdom’ interactive projection by molly schwartz image © designboom

the ‘hidden kingdom’, an interactive installation by new york-based artist molly schwartz, renders visible an interpretation
of the world of mushroom spores and other varied lifeforms that share our environment. originally a painter, schwartz adds
an unusual level of visual depth to the work by incorporating hand-drawn images in the digitally mediated piece,
which was on exhibition at NYU‘s interactive telecommunications program (ITP) spring 2011 show.
 
the installation’s title comes from the nickname for the kingdom of fungi, so given because toadstools and mushrooms are only the visible fruits
of extensive webs of threadlike mycelium in soil. in ‘hidden kingdom’, a wooden ‘porthole’ frames a streaming film of handdrawn illustrations
of mushroom spores, particles, and globes. the particles flow, bob, and occasionally burst into new spores, their movements influenced
by the passage of people in front of the porthole. on the floor, a wooden periscope-like sculpture invites visitors to peer through its top hole
to watch a video record of the past worlds of this ‘hidden kingdom’. steering the handles from side to side slides the perspective
of the moving image, so that it can be experienced in ceaseless panorama.
 

molly schwartz: hidden kingdom full view of the piece

schwartz explains: ‘the installation reveals a mysterious fungal organism, a swampy sea of life that shares [and] mirrors
our physical space.’ the primary visualization utilies openframeworks, while the navigable periscope was coded in processing.
 
 

molly schwartz: hidden kingdom the standing periscope-like viewfinder lets visitors examine panoramic views of previous worlds image © designboom

molly schwartz: hidden kingdom view of past worlds, as seen from peering into the viewscope image © designboom

molly schwartz: hidden kingdom detail view of the main porthole projection image © designboom

video of the interactivity testing for the project

— molly schwartz: hidden kingdom

infiniti digital art competition currently, designboom in collaboration with INFINITI is offering an international competition asking participants to design spectacular or interactive digital artworks,to be installed and displayed throughout europe. participation is open to applicants from every country in the world: to professionals, students, vjs, and design-enthusiasts.

registration is free and now open, through july 8th, 2011. for more information about the competition and how to register, click here.