Pulse Topology

“Pulse Topology” is composed of thousands of light bulbs suspended at different heights that create a series of crests and valleys—an intimate landscape that visitors are invited to traverse. Each light bulb glimmers to the pulse of a different participant, which contributes to a connective arrangement. Custom-made pulse sensors record visitor heartbeats; when a new participant interacts with the installation, their pulse is added to the canopy of recordings above them, with the newest recording replacing the oldest.

Forming a platform for self-representation, in “Pulse Topology” individual heartbeats come together to form an immersive chorus of light and sound. Translating an interior force to an exterior form, the piece makes tangible the otherwise invisible register of the heartbeat, which glows and then fades in the spirit of a memento mori.

General info

Year of creation:

2021

3 000 Light Bulbs

Technique:

3,000 LED light bulbs arrayed in a fermat spiral, contactless heartbeat sensors, audio playback

Dimensions:

covers any area between 1,000 and 5,000 sq ft

Weight:

each light bulb assembly: 90 gram
each meter of cable: 20g

Keywords:

interactive, database, biometric, sound, performance, lights, ephemeral

Edition:

5 Editions, 1 AP

Collectors:

private collector

10 000 Light Bulbs

Technique:

10,000 LED light bulbs arrayed in a fermat spiral, contactless heartbeat sensors, audio playback

Dimensions:

covers any area between 8,000 and 15,000 sq ft

Weight:

each light bulb assembly: 90 gram
each meter of cable: 20g

Edition:

1 Edition, 1 AP

Exhibitions

Lumiere 2023, Lumiere Festival Durham, Durham, United Kingdom, 2023.
“Sync” Live Performance with Eli Keszler, Gray Area, San Francisco, California, United States, 2023.
TECHS-MECHS: A Survey of Mexican Technological Culture, Gray Area Foundation for the Arts, Grand Theatre, San Francisco, California, United States, 2023.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Biometric Theatre, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong, China, 2023.
Superblue Miami, Superblue, Miami, Florida, United States, 2022 - 2023.
“Sync” Live Performance with Eli Keszler, Pace Gallery - New York , New York City, New York, United States, 2022.
13th Mercosul Biennial, Ministry of Citizenship and Santander, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 2022.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Common Measures, PACE Gallery New York, New York City, New York, United States, 2022.
Design Miami / Basel, Superblue, Messe Basel, Basel, Switzerland, 2022.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse Topology, Superblue, Basel, Switzerland, 2022.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse Topology, The Bentway, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2021.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse Topology, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 2021 - 2022.