PULSE PARK: Relational Architecture No. 14 has been opened
interactive light installation by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is fed by visitors’ heartbeat
PULSE PARK: Relational Architecture No. 14 has been opened – interactive light installation by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is fed by visitors’ heartbeat.
A contribution by Urbane Künste Ruhr to the programme of the Ruhrtriennale 2012
In his series Relational Architecture, Canadian-Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer provides tools that transform urban space into a fleeting architecture. Pulse Park, put into effect at Bochum’s Westpark by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, is the artist’s biggest so far after his illumnation of Madison Square Park in New York, amongst other works. His interactive light installation with 250 theatre spotlights makes all Westpark pulsate and defines an urban meeting space. Yesterday (August 16th) Pulse Park was opened in the presence of the artist. Urbane Künste Ruhr had called on Bochum citizens to submit their most beautiful story or their most exciting experience relating to Westpark. The best three applicants were chosen to present their story at the opening on Thursday evening. Apart from the artist, they were the first three pulse generators. Many of the numerous visitors joined them. At dawn, Pulse Park transforms Westpark at the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum into a sea of lights, brought to life solely by the heartbeats of the passers-by. A computer-operated sensor measures the activity of each visitor’s heart and translates the registered data into sound and light pulses. Every new pulse generator makes the signal move by one position, and those pulses already fed into the system are stored, so that the park is illuminated by the heartbeats. Citizens of Bochum and visitors to the Ruhrtriennale are invited to participate. Pulse Park is open daily until 16th September from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., admission is free. At 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, 19th August, Artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer gives a public speech (in English) at the Turbinenhalle at Jahrhunderthalle Bochum. The internationally renowned artist will present his projects for the first time in the cultural metropolis Ruhr.
