takashi kubo: aurora infiniti digital art competition shortlisted entry

the ‘aurora’ installation by takashi kubo is one of 21 projects shortlisted in designboom’s ‘infiniti digital art competition’

‘aurora’, created by japanese designer takashi kubo, is a sculptural installation composed of fiberglass, whose colours and pattern shift in response to ambient sound. kubo designed the piece for designboom’s ‘infiniti digital art competition‘, which asked participants to design innovative or interactive digital artworks under the theme of ‘inspired performance’, for installation in new centers that infiniti is opening throughout europe.

the curtain of ‘aurora’ is composed of hundreds of 5-meter long fiberglass rods, here arranged around a showroom vehicle but capable of being installed in any space and in a range of diameters. as microphones pick up the ambient sound, custom software uses the data to alter the colours and forms projected onto the curtain, as cast by five videoprojectors spaced around its circumference. although the animation shown here features abstract colours, live footage and other video could easily be incorporated to reflect the changing needs and ambience of the space. kubo notes that via the control computer, the installation itself can also make sound for a more active installation.

in kubo’s words: ‘a delicate fiberglass reflects the shake of trifling air [and] waves, and the space– wrapped in a fantastic aurora– is completed at the same time.‘

example footage of the abstract sound-responsive visuals to be projected on the fiberglass

full installation view

construction diagram

‘aurora’ was one of 21 shortlisted entries in the first round of the ‘infiniti digital art competition’. from these 21 projects, infiniti will select six designs for installation, beginning with the first new center in manchester, UK. stay posted! designboom will announce the six winners the first week of september.

do you have your own vision for an installation? the next round of the ‘infiniti digital art competition’ begins this autumn! a new theme and new design opportunities await your creativity. check back this october to the designboom homepage or competition call.