My work has been placed in the realm of art, in the realm of science, and in the realm of cultural crossover between the two. Because I have been interested in creating interactive experiences, the science informing my work and research has primarily been in the area of human perception, but all my projects are hybrids that feed into multiple areas of research. My work often involves the development of new physical human-computer interaction devices, and offers a new 'reading' of physical information that brings to light unfamiliar aspects of the information.
Screenshot of a web visualization and sonification of wind speeds and directions during the most intense 24 hours of Hurricane Bob in 1991, from Atmospherics/Weather Works (2003)
Andrea Polli currently has been developing two projects:
The Atmospherics/Weather Works project is a software system for the creation of sonifications based on highly detailed and physically accurate meteorological data and exhibited in the form of sound installations, live and recorded musical performances, and an interactive web presentation.
The project is collaboration with Dr. Glenn Van Knowe from MESO, Mesoscale Environmental Simulations and Operations a leading firm in the development and application of atmospheric and other geophysical models for research and real- time applications.
The first public installation of sonifications of the MESO data was in April, 2003 at Engine 27 in New York City. A 16-channel sound installation spatially re-created two historic storms that devastated the New York/Long Island area first through data, then through sound. The resulting turbulent and evocative compositions allowed listeners to experience geographically scaled events on a human scale and gain a deeper understanding of some of the more unpredictable complex rhythms and melodies of nature.
New directions for this project include sonifications of tornadoes and investigating the sonification of real-time meteorological data via the internet. More sound, video, and project information available at: http://www.andreapolli.com/studio/atmospherics
Another recent project, The Fly's Eye (2002) creates an animated document of both space and time and draws inspiration from the structure, function and significance of the eye of the fly and other processes of vision. In The Fly's Eye, the history of a public space or film is built in layers of position and image. In The Fly's Eye installation, multiple images are projected in a public space based on the movement of viewers in the space. Each time the viewer changes position, the live video feed moves and a visible trail is left on the projected image. The Fly's Eye consists of a computer system designed to perform a real-time spatial analysis and deconstruction of a live or pre- recorded video using a custom designed interface.
teacombine" - Movement portrait from The Fly's Eye series (2002). Digital Print 66" X 42"
Artist's Biography
Andrea Polli is a digital media artist living in New York City. She is currently an Associate Professor in Film and Media and Integrated Media Arts at Hunter College. Polli's work addresses issues related to science and technology in contemporary society. Her projects often bring together artists and scientists from various disciplines. Full CV available at: http://homepage.interaccess.com/~apolli/cv.htm
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Andrea Polli
Associate Professor Film and Media Hunter College 695 Park Ave. New York, NY 10021 212.772.5589 http://www.andreapolli.com
