World’s largest light sculpture turned on by biometrics
01 June, 2007
category: Biometrics
On Thursday May 31, 2007 at 10:00 p.m. the pulse of invited guests and celebrities, generated the first beams of light from Pulse Front and illuminated Toronto’s Harbourfront.
Pulse Front: Relational Architecture 12 is the new searchlight piece by acclaimed Mexican-Canadian electronic artist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. The groundbreaking installation uses 20 robotic searchlights, 200,000 watts of power and includes displays up to 20 metal sculptures positioned along Toronto’s harbour. Each piece is installed with a biometric sensor. When a participating spectator grabs the handles on the sculpture the sensors convert their pulse into beams of light in the sky, visible up to 15 kilometers away.
World’s largest light sculpture ignites Toronto’s Harbourfront in the international debut of Pulse Front: Relational Architecture 12
Interactive light sculpture kicks-off Luminato Festival eve, using the heart beat of honoured guests and invited celebrities
TORONTO, May 31–The world premiere of Pulse Front: Relational Architecture 12 celebrates the innovative merger of life, art and technology on the eve of the inaugural Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity.
On Thursday May 31, 2007 at 10:00 p.m. the pulse of invited guests and celebrities, will generate the first beams of light from Pulse Front and illuminate Toronto’s Harbourfront.
“TELUS is proud to support Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s original pairing of art and technology,” said Joe Natale, president, TELUS Business Solutions. “Our partnership with the Luminato Festival provides an opportunity to ignite a deeper appreciation for creative innovation within Canadians. At TELUS we continue to support local initiatives in arts and culture in Toronto as part of our commitment to helping the communities in which we live, work and serve.”
Pulse Front: Relational Architecture 12 is the new searchlight piece by acclaimed Mexican-Canadian electronic artist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. The groundbreaking installation uses 20 robotic searchlights, 200,000 watts of power and includes displays up to 20 metal sculptures positioned along Toronto’s harbour. Each piece is installed with a biometric sensor. When a participating spectator grabs the handles on the sculpture the sensors convert their pulse into beams of light in the sky, visible up to 15 kilometers away. The life force of honoured guests at the TELUS-hosted event will launch the beating matrix of searchlights.
Janice Price, CEO, Luminato, said, “Having the pulse of Toronto power the first beams of light emitted from Pulse Front is a striking way to unveil the exhibit and Luminato. With the support of TELUS, Pulse Front communicates the meaning of the festival: the collaboration of organizations, communities and audiences to explore and celebrate the creative spirit.”
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is a Montreal-based electronic artist who creates large-scale interactive installations encouraging public participation. His innovative pieces are both award-winning and commissioned for events internationally. Pulse Front is his newest piece in a series of works controlled by heart readings. Toronto will be the first place that his work displays on an urban scale.
TELUS is also providing $5,000 to Zerofootprint to offset the environmental impacts of Pulse Front. Zerofootprint is a not-for-profit environmental organization that works to inform and offset the environmental impacts of consumers and businesses. Funds go towards forestation projects to help counteract high carbon dioxide emissions.
About LUMINATO
Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity takes place from June 1 to 10, 2007 in communities and venues across the city. For further information on the world’s newest International Arts festival, such as event dates, locations and schedules, visit www.luminato.com.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $8.8 billion of annual revenue and 10.8 million customer connections including 5.1 million wireless subscribers, 4.5 million wireline network access lines and 1.1 million Internet subscribers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video. Committed to being Canada’s premier corporate citizen, we give where we live. Since 2000, TELUS and our team members have contributed more than $91 million to charitable and non-profit organizations and volunteered more than 1.7 million hours of service to local communities. Eight TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead our philanthropic initiatives. For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.
