HeavyM
Capucine Guillin
Léa Caraud
Marine Gaillet
FR | ENG
Concept
Small-scale video mapping installation (1m x 1m) representing a workstation (screen, keyboard, book, poster) onto which visual compositions inspired by Ryoji Ikeda are projected. The user interacts by placing their hands over the mapped areas: each gesture gradually makes the flashing white rectangles disappear to reveal a growing stream of illegible data (letters, numbers). The experience culminates in a revelation: we consume the equivalent of a 700-page novel (172,000 words) every day via our screens, social networks, books, and media.
Objective
Raise awareness of daily information overload through a 30-second immersive experience. Visually and sonically materialize the invisible flow of data we absorb every day, creating awareness of our relationship with information. Transform passive contemplation into physical interaction where the user's gestures gradually reveal the scale of the phenomenon, until the final numerical revelation from the study “How Much Information?” (UC San Diego, 2008).
Technique
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Interactive detection: Camera positioned above the device, connected to MediaPipe HandTracking via TouchDesigner to detect areas where hands are present.
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Video mapping: HeavyM for projection onto 4 surfaces (screen, keyboard, book, poster) with independent Spout streams per zone
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Visuals: Evolution in 3 phases - flashing white rectangles (Ikeda style) → gradual appearance of letters/numbers (overlay) → total disappearance + final sentence revealing 172,000 words/day
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Sound design: Multi-layered Audacity composition creating an oppressive atmosphere (industrial pulse drone, data processing, notifications, reverb/distortion/wahwah effects)