Emmy

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

'Blue hour: Still / Not here' the completion of the final stages will u=include the assembly of all elements, the enclosure of a liminal atmosphere, still emotional space, a mixture of physical and digital forms and infinite space through mirrors. The tree installation and the other elements of projections, mirrors, sound etc will transform the room into a space of coordinated movement which will create a space for viewers which will feel soft, present yet absent and surrounded by infinite reflections.

MAKING

Before the final installation, I will make sure to check through the technical systems to make sure they all work well together. This includes checking the Arduino code for LED patterns, making sure the tree wiring is hidden and attached. and checking the projectors alignment. I will make sure the cables and trip hazards are looked at. I will make sure the tree is positioned the way it should be in the middle with alignment of the mirrors and walls whilst allowing space to walk. I will test everything to make sure the blossoms sit well with the LED lights and the sound gives the emotional presence I'm after along with the infinite reflections coming off the way intended.

REFLECTIONS

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

I looked into the potential risks and challenges that could affect the practical and emotional impact of the 'Blue Hour: Still / Not Here' installation, which involves mirrors, wax, wiring, projections, and sculpture. The focus on stillness and immersivity can create technical, lighting, and structural problems that may affect the emotional experiences which was intended to be portrayed. By predicting these risks will allow me to install ways to reduce them in order to allow the full effect of the installation to be displayed.

MAKING

The main technical risks outlined include mirror breakage, wax melting, electrical faults, trip hazards, projector overheating, and heavy materials. To minimise these risks, the necessary points are to make sure there is secure mounting for mirrors, low-heat LEDs for wax blossoms, proper insulation for electrical components, cable-management strategies for trip hazards, ventilation for projectors, and stable tree structures.

I will do small tests to point out potential issues in the installation process. I will make wax samples under LED light to test melting. I will test projector placement to see the glare. I will work on a miniature model of the structure to see where all the wires can go to look net and natural whilst focusing on stability of the tree.

REFLECTION

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

I will focus on how the LED system connects to the emotional presence of the installation. The breathing LEDs inside the wax blossoms will make a quiet pulse that feels alive. This subtle movement exaggerates the theme of emotional stillness — the blossoms will glow gently, as if it's breathing with the viewer. The sensor‑based interactivity will make the installation feel aware without being intrusive.

MAKING

I looked into Arduino wiring diagrams to understand how to power multiple LEDs. I also looked into how sensors can connect to LED behaviour in terms of adjusting brightness and pulse speed when the viewer approaches. I will add enamel‑coated wires inside the tree structure which is important to include as it will help connect to the Arduino board.

I will wire a small cluster of LEDs which will be connected to an Arduino board. I will test different breathing patterns and sensor responses. I will put the LEDs into wax blossoms to test how the light shines through. The breathing effect will be a gentle, calming rhythm that aligns with the installation’s emotional goals.

REFLECTION

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

I will focus on integrating light and sound to create the desired emotional outcome intended. The aim is for the breathing LEDs with other types of movement such as fading. The objective is to make an immersive experience that grasps the viewer in a still moment, surrounded by soothing blue light and subtle movement.

MAKING

I'll have research on synchronising light elements focused on aligning the LED breathing pattern with the slow drift of projections to maintain emotional presence. I will test the timing and brightness to make sure they are in line with each other to enhance the sense of spaciousness created by mirrors.

REFLECTION

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

The wax blossoms symbolise fragility, impermanence, and emotional stillness. They represent moments frozen in time, stuck between growth and deterioration. Their soft blue colour makes the emotions of melancholy and calmness be more present. The blossoms are not just there for decoration — they are emotional responders imbedded into the installation.

MAKING

When researching various wax types for this project, I found that softer wax enhances LED light but could make the wax melt, whereas harder wax maintains shape but scatters light less. I also looked at pigments to gain a soft blue shade without taking away from its translucency. I will create multiple wax blossom prototypes with different thicknesses and pigment levels along with LEDs embedded in to it to test light diffusion. I will experiment with acrylic paint detailing to increase dimension when the blossoms are lit.

REFLECTIONS

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

I will focus on constructing the tree, which will be the central point of the installation. The organic shape of the tree should give a sense of gentleness and grounding, strengthening the emotional stillness of the space. The tree needs to be visually delicate while supporting the wax blossoms and its entire structure.

MAKING

I will have my researched metal and acrylic wiring to decide which material gives the best result of strength and flexibility. I will have a miniature sculpture to help me decide which metal is more durable, while acrylic provides a cleaner aesthetic. I also explored how to attach blossoms without damaging the structure. Weight distribution is important to make sure the tree remains stable in the centre of the mirrored room.

I will build a prototype branch using aluminium wire. I will attach wax blossoms to test how they hang and how the LED light shines through them. I will also test how the branch appears when reflected in mirrors, making sure the form remains coherent when multiplied infinitely.

REFELCTIONS

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

The projections in the installation include digital motion to show drifting thoughts and emotions. The final plan includes two projected videos interacting with the white space: on one wall there will be blue blossom particles drifting at different paces, and the other will display a different colour which contrasts well with the blue. These projections will have a calm rhythm that fits well with the stillness of the tree, enhancing the theme of emotional staleness.

MAKING

I looked into how to code drifting particles in OpenProcessing using ChatGPT. I will also look into projector brightness and angle to make sure the particles show up crispy and don't reflect oddly into the mirror.

I will make a new particle animation with hand drawn blossom shapes which I will put into OpenProcessing. I will test different speeds and fade timings. I will project the particles onto a white wall and see how it reflects on and with the mirror. The motion will feel calm and lost.

REFLECTION

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

A final visual.

MAKING

I added a mirror on top in place of a blank ceiling to see the difference and I quite liked the outcome. I also drew into the sketch where the Arduino connecting wires would go to create the movement.  

REFLECTIONS

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Continuing from the last experiment, I carried on seeing the different in visuals with the particle projections. 

MAKING

I changed up the visual projections from the slow particles to the clustered particles to see the difference. 

REFLECTION

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

I needed a visual on the idea and how it would look. Continuing from the previous experiments I decided to add in different visuals of my drawing. 

MAKING

I projected the different backgrounds with the black and the white background drawings to see how it would look. I also zoomed in to see how different parts of the image would reflect and look.

REFLECTIONS

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

This part of the idea is to experiment with the idea to see If its doable and how it would look once done. 

MAKING

I positioned the mirrors on a desk with some support from material on the sides to keep the mirrors upright and intact with some bluetac. I then placed the blossom tree sculpture in the middle of the miniature mirror room. I projected my particle image onto the wall of mirrors. 

In the last two images I attempted to add a white wall background with paper to see if it would reflect better and it did, it reflected clearer. With the white wall background the black background image particles sat better than the white background particles as it reflected easier. 

REFLECTIONS

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

A room full of mirrors with a projection of lights displaying through so the image is constant and endless.

TECHNICAL RESEARCH

I used mirrors and a video on YouTube on my Ipad to see what the potential visual could look like with projection through lights. 

MAKING

I created a visual of how the mirrors could look and be positioned with a minute rough sculpture of a blossom tree to figure out proportions. I also used a projector to see how the particles would project.

REFLECTIONS