Exhibition

Lisa PARK (South Korea; USA)
“Eunoia”

“Eunoia” is an interactive installation, using electroencephalogram (EEG) technology to translate brainwaves into sound which vibrates pools of water and creates a real-time audiovisual representation of brain activity. The changes of volume, pitch, and speed of the sound are associated with his/her varying emotional states detected by the sensor.
An EEG headset measures the brainwave frequencies (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Theta) of the user, and this data is sent via Bluetooth to a computer where the software programs Processing, Max/MSP, and Ableton Live, using custom-written code to calibrate volume, pitch and panning based on EEG data, translating it into audio output.
The audio output is produced by five speakers, while each speaker corresponds to one of the five brainwave frequencies, in order to add a visual component to the performance. The water responds with different formations of ripples and droplets in unpredictable patterns, associated with a person’s feelings. The goal of “Eunoia” is to exercise controlling over his/her own mental state, as well as to achieve perfect stillness and calmness, in which no sound or vibration could be heard or seen.