The installation reflects the distributed nature of the internet, referring to a mythological Greek sea god who could foretell the future.
Within the Proteus series, the 4.1 version evolved its mode of interaction towards a web-based application using gaze-tracking in personal mobile devices and its architectural counterpart as a modular and non-site-specific installation embodying interactions happening fluently across the digital infrastructure in a single physical space.
As a direct reference to post-war architectural megastructures and the concept of ‘proteinic architecture’ from Yona Friedman in the 70’s last century, the installation mirrors the internet’s distributed nature by spatial articulations of scattered digital screens and mirrors in a modular manner.
Reflections on rippled metal panels strengthen the immersive character of the installation, and the golden material used drives us back to the Greek mythology of Proteus and his ability to reveal precious secrets and truths upon capturing. The installation takes the shape of a shimmering ocean pouring out in the gallery space as a recall of internet digital infrastructure and a natural habitat of our prophetic deity.
The interactive visuals are based on the constantly changing behavior of digitized ferrofluid, which conveys the idea of uncertainty in human interactions. Observing a slow-paced evolution of ferropatterns encourages AI-powered mindfulness to counter the digital age’s attention economy characterized by distraction and information overload.
Maria Smigielska is a new media architect and researcher from Poland, based in Zürich. Her work centers on crafting meaningful experiences in architecture and art installations by integrating mixed media, digital design, advanced fabrication techniques, and interactive technologies. With a rich academic background, including roles at ETH Zürich, ZHdK Zürich, and HGK FHNW Basel, she now contributes to BFH AHB with research on human-centered digital crafts. Her artistic work often fuses arts&sciences and span residencies (ZKM, EMAP/EMARE), commissions (Copernicus Science Center), and exhibitions at Tallinn Architecture Biennale, Biennale for Arts and Technology in Trondheim, ZKM Karlsruhe, Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb, House of Switzerland Milano.
CompMonks is a trained architect and a researcher in technology for architecture based in Switzerland. He obtained his PhD in 2023 and currently leads research on interactive and generative design with brain-computer interfaces at ETH Zürich. From 2010 to 2015, Pierre was appointed Adjunct-Assistant Professor at the Digital Knowledge department of ENSA Paris-Malaquais (France) and Lecturer from 2014 to 2016 at the Laboratory of Numeric Cultures at EPF Lausanne (Switzerland). His artistic work follows a series of design objects and mixed-media installations shedding light on the power of combining humans with computers. Among his most recent appearances are the Neurons exhibition at Centre Pompidou Paris 2020, the Biennale for Arts and Technology in Trondheim 2020, and the Biomedia exhibition at ZKM Karlsruhe in 2021.
