Pulse Park

Relational Architecture 14

“Pulse Park” (Relational Architecture 14) was originally exhibited at Madison Square Park, New York City, "Pulse Park" is comprised of a matrix of light beams that grazed the central oval field of Madison Square Park, New York City. The intensity of each spotlight is entirely modulated by a sensor that measures the heart rate of participants. The resulting effect is a visualization of the body's vital signs, arguably our most symbolic biometric, at an immense scale and in an urban setting.

In “Pulse Park,” evening visitors to Madison Square Park have their systolic and diastolic activity measured by a sensor sculpture installed at the North end of the Oval Lawn. These biometric rhythms are translated and projected as pulses of narrow-beam light that will move sequentially down rows of spotlights placed along the perimeter of the lawn as each consecutive participant makes contact with the sensor. The result is a poetic expression of our vital signs, transforming the public space into a fleeting architecture of light and movement.

“Pulse Park” is inspired by Roberto Gavaldón's film "Macario" (México, 1960) in which the protagonist has a hunger-induced hallucination wherein individuals are represented by lit candles, as well as by the Minimalist musical compositions of Conlon Nancarrow, Glenn Branca and Steve Reich. “Pulse Park” is the culmination of a series that Lozano-Hemmer debuted at the 2007 Venice Biennale with “Pulse Room.”

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General info

Spanish name:
Parque de Corazonadas
Year of creation:
2008

Installation

Technique:
Heart rate sensor, computer, DMX controller, custom software, dimmer rack, 200 Source Four spotlights, generator
Dimensions:
Variable, the lawn is an oval measuring 80 x 60 m
Keywords:
biometric, lights, interactive, database, outdoor, recorder

Print

Dimensions:
80 x 50 cm
Keywords:
biometric, lights, interactive, database, outdoor, recorder
Edition:
12 Editions, 1 AP
Collectors:
private collector

Exhibitions


Credits

  • Programming: Conroy Badger
  • Production Assistance: Pierre Fournier, David Lemieux, Natalie Bouchard, Boris Dempsey, Stephan Schulz
  • Production, Mad. Sq. Art: Debbie Landau, Sam Rauch, Jeffrey Sandgrund, Stewart Desmond
  • Staging: Scharff Weisberg
  • Commissioned by the Madison Square Park Conservancy
  • Major support for Mad. Sq. Art is provided by: Founding Partners Agnes Gund and Anonymous. Substantial support is provided by Jill & Peter Kraus, Leucadia Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation
  • Project support is provided by: The Toby D. Lewis Trust, Haunch of Venison, bitforms Gallery, OMR gallery, Galerie Guy Bärtschi, the Speyer Family Foundation
  • This project is supported in part with public funds from: New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

Bibliography