Carsten Nicolai: rota

The work rota could be considered an experimental construction that is supposed to unite scientific research and artistic production. The installation deals with the effects of audiovisual stimulation on human perception.

Referring to an existing room installation of the same name this application causes a stroboscopic visual effect, which, depending on the rotation speed produces changing frequencies of flickering light impulses that are also transformed into sound. According to scientific research these impulses may have a direct effect on the brain waves of the spectator causing a neural feedback that can simulate different types of mental conditions like trance, meditation, relaxation or stress.

Especially the dream and mind machines developed by Brion Gysin during the beatnik era since the 1950s were supposed to produce alpha waves to expand human consciousness and have been influential to the present work. rota therefore presents an experimental set-up that allows the viewers to experience in what way light impulses might influence their own brain activity and if special functions of the brain – like relaxation, attention, learning potential and hence creativity – might potentially be controllable.

Courtesy Galerie EIGEN + ART Leipzig/Berlin und PaceWildenstein

Set the backlight under "Settings" to maximum. Due to the stroboscopic effects people with disposition to epileptic seizures should not use this application.

e-art-apps:
A project by Ivo Wessel and Gerd Harry Lybke.
www.e-art-apps.com

e-art-app no. 1:
Carsten Nicolai. rota. 2009
www.carstennicolai.de
www.alvanoto.com