Laser Forest is a large interactive musical laser installation. Commissioned by and premiered at the STRP Biennale in Eindhoven, this giant interactive forest covers almost 450 square meters and is composed of over 150 musical ‘trees’ made of rods and lasers. The audience can freely explore the space, physically tapping, shaking, plucking, and vibrating the trees to trigger sounds and lasers. Due to the natural springiness of the material, interacting with the trees causes them to swing and oscillate, creating vibrating patterns of light and sound. Each tree is tuned to a specific tone, creating harmonious sounds spatialized and played through a powerful surround sound setup.
The installation is designed to bring out in adults those feelings of curiousity and wonderment which are so alive and evident in children.
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Forest exists as a tourable interactive installation, open to the public, and also a performance. The performance premiered at the STRP Biennale opening, consisting of 12 local children between the age of 8 and 12 years old. They were choreographed to move around the space, strumming, and triggering the lasers and sounds.
Directors: Robin McNicholas, Memo Akten, Barney Steel
Producer: Waiming Wee
Production Manager: Devin Matthews
Designer: Ersinhan Ersin
Fabricator/Engineer: Jamie Elliot
Prototype and Serial Programming: Marek Bereza
Sound Programming: Paul Miller
Electronics: Mike Harrison
Acoustic sound consultant: Rob Kelly
Surround sound consultant: Dave Sheppard
Lighting consultant: Jonny Milmer
Photographers: Sandra Ciampone
Co-Commissioned by STRP Biennale
