https://marymark.cargo.site Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:24:46 +0000 https://marymark.cargo.site en https://marymark.cargo.site/Intangible-Interactions Mon, 30 Jan 2023 23:48:30 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/Intangible-Interactions Intangible Interactions Blog Back to Spring 2023 courses Final proposal idea: rebuilding the Tower of Babel - 04.03.2023 We had no idea what to do. So we played the speed ideation game that Yeseul taught us three times.&nbsp; <img width="1280" height="960" width_o="1280" height_o="960" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0f8a7c0e2e480704a2cb493a014a57ba51dec417aadffba9d09d7e6b0d8040d6/IMG_6724-Large.jpeg" data-mid="174248148" border="0" data-scale="97" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0f8a7c0e2e480704a2cb493a014a57ba51dec417aadffba9d09d7e6b0d8040d6/IMG_6724-Large.jpeg" /> <img width="960" height="1280" width_o="960" height_o="1280" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dbc2b9570a8d6d5f7db2ffb7f2c209a169e48e7710bb106bdc2ad4a25eec413d/IMG_6720-Large.jpeg" data-mid="174247498" border="0" data-scale="48" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/960/i/dbc2b9570a8d6d5f7db2ffb7f2c209a169e48e7710bb106bdc2ad4a25eec413d/IMG_6720-Large.jpeg" /><img width="960" height="1280" width_o="960" height_o="1280" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6742f1accb40c61796ac948ced7082d1712d96ac0c3a4d3a986efad7e8b501ec/IMG_6721-Large.jpeg" data-mid="174247499" border="0" data-scale="48" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/960/i/6742f1accb40c61796ac948ced7082d1712d96ac0c3a4d3a986efad7e8b501ec/IMG_6721-Large.jpeg" /> None of the ideas were groundbreaking, but it got us talking about the Spotify song selection algorithm and how even though Dror and I grew up in two different parts of the world at different times, we still had very similar taste in music and knew so many of the same ‘random’ songs (thank you Spotify!). Inspired by this, we thought of other algorithms that affect our communication and interpersonal relationships. We remembered an article by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, where he used the fall of Babel Tower as a metaphor for the current state of social media. In the article, he takes us through what it would feel like to live after the destruction of Babel in the Book of Genesis, after God confused people’s languages as a punishment for their attempt to reach the heavens. Similar to this feeling, social media promised to unite the world, but instead, made us ”...disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth,” he claims. We wanted to explore the idea of embracing algorithms in building relationships and their role in breaking cultural and language barriers. As Haidt suggests, so much of our communication today is broken with algorithms responsible for radical polarization and the spread of misinformation. We wanted to build a communication tool that does the opposite, one that helps us rebuild the tower of Babel and highlights the algorithms’ potential to connect us (and their limitations). So here is the interaction that we came up with: 1. First, two people who are about to engage in a conversation provide a set of 3-5 adjustives they identify with and that describe them (potentially using fridge magnets and computer vision).2. Then one person (the speaker) is prompted to say something to the other person (the listener) to get to know them, in the language they are most comfortable with. The listener does not directly hear the speakers voice. 3. The speaker’s voice is recorded --&gt; language is detected, and the speech is translated to text --&gt; text is translated into English using Google Translate API --&gt; the phrase is reformatted using ChatGPT API to be more suitable for the listener’s self-identification --&gt; the new text is translated into the listener’s language using Google Translate API 4. The new tailored and reformatted text is read out to the listener by a digitally generated voice, while the speaker and listener look at each other. We decided to try this idea out with Hebrew --&gt; English --&gt; Russian flow and here is what came out. ChatGPT: <img width="1582" height="802" width_o="1582" height_o="802" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d39b76bb08456f43b9992ec4880e8b3e47c367097e5eefa3810936d07ceec3ec/Screenshot-2023-04-04-at-2.26.40-PM.png" data-mid="174249254" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d39b76bb08456f43b9992ec4880e8b3e47c367097e5eefa3810936d07ceec3ec/Screenshot-2023-04-04-at-2.26.40-PM.png" /> Google Translate: <img width="2652" height="1174" width_o="2652" height_o="1174" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1e7bf2efc02d26df392950cd3e1175a86ef41d6bbd4409722ff1682379047dc7/Screenshot-2023-04-04-at-2.28.10-PM.png" data-mid="174249255" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1e7bf2efc02d26df392950cd3e1175a86ef41d6bbd4409722ff1682379047dc7/Screenshot-2023-04-04-at-2.28.10-PM.png" /> To make it even more fun, we reformatted the output as a poem: <img width="1564" height="944" width_o="1564" height_o="944" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7e1189928881ddf2f1a056119d12816ec2827fcd8fded0731540e4772db3e2f6/Screenshot-2023-04-04-at-2.27.05-PM.png" data-mid="174249253" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7e1189928881ddf2f1a056119d12816ec2827fcd8fded0731540e4772db3e2f6/Screenshot-2023-04-04-at-2.27.05-PM.png" />This was a very fun expriment. One of the most suprising and bizarre aspects of it was hearing the Russian reinterpretation of what Dror originally said while looking at him. I didn’t know what was him and what was the algorithm but we kept smiling at each other as the Russian was read out and the overall the outcome was very positive. Creating a custom API: Arduino to TD wirelessly - 28.03.2023 By Mary Mark and Dror Margalit Over Zoom, from two different locations, we met to transfer information from an Arduino to a server. We connected the Arduino to WiFi, set up a server, and voila: Mary could send data to a remote server and it showed up on Dror's screen. From there, the possibilities are endless, connecting data from the real world and sending it anywhere. <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d11520_be0753b2d8724819826982c0aa414924~mv2.jpeg"> An image of the potentiometer in Touchdesigner Our end goal for this application was to connect the Arudino to Touchdesigner through WiFi and control visuals remotely. Server First, we set up a Node.JS server to receive JSON-formatted data using Express and BodyParser (as shown in this example). The data we wanted to receive was a sensor value and its number of in the sequence of the values. To achieve that we created a "post" function for the incoming data. app.post('/adddata', (req, res) =&gt; { const { sensorCount, sensorValue } = req.body; if (sensorCount &amp;&amp; sensorValue) { data.push({ sensorCount, sensorValue }); res.json({ ok: true, data }); } }) Then, we added two "get" functions:&nbsp; one for presenting all of the data app.get('/getdata', (_, res) =&gt; { res.json({ ok: true, data}) }); and one for extracting only the data from a particular incoming sensor value app.get('/data/:sensorCount', (req, res) =&gt; { const { sensorCount } = req.params; const count = data.filter((count) =&gt; count.sensorCount === sensorCount)[0]; res.json({ ok: true, count}) }); Arduino Once the server was up and running it was time to set up the Arduino. We used the "DweetPost" example from the ArduinoHttpClient library to send data formatted as JSON to the server. <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d11520_3903119147e347e1a427a1fdde2fbd60~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1280,h_1270,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/d11520_3903119147e347e1a427a1fdde2fbd60~mv2.jpg"> Get all data <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d11520_03650df21b0642f6a9117f88dd845ef3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1480,h_268,al_c,lg_1,q_85,enc_auto/d11520_03650df21b0642f6a9117f88dd845ef3~mv2.jpg"> Access a particular data point Touchdesigner In Touchdesigner, we accessed the data from the server ready to control visuals remotely. <img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d11520_b2a15ab133a440baa0b7f03db1a65294~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1279,h_816,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/d11520_b2a15ab133a440baa0b7f03db1a65294~mv2.jpg"> The incoming data is presented on line 9 The Arduino and server code can be found here: https://github.com/DrorMargalit/ArduinoToTouchdesigner References: Building a simple REST API with NodeJS and Express. Assignment 2 - 07.02.2023 Time of Flight (ToF) Imager Datasheet:&nbsp;https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/6/e/3/0/6/vl53l5cx-datasheet.pdf&nbsp; Time-of-Flight (ToF) Imager is a sensor that works by emitting light (invisible to the human eye) and measuring the time is takes for the reflected light to reach a lens on the sensor.&nbsp; This sensor outputs a 8x8 or 4x4 grid of distance data that is within the sensor’s field of view (FoV). This ToF can be thought of as a very low resolution distance camera.&nbsp; Sensing parameters - Sensing angle: diagonal FoV is 63 degrees; horizonal and vertical FoV’s are 45 degrees. - Min/max distance: 2cm to 400cm per zone - Output data: 4x4 of 8x8 grid - Max sampling rate: 15Hz for 8x8; 60Hz for 4x4; - Price: 25$ - Strengths: can be used to sense directional movement; very compact; low processing power requirements since the distance sensing algorithm is simple. - Weaknesses: doesn’t work well without a background in range (is there any way to fix the problem); relatively limited data so the applications are limited as well. - I wasn’s quite sure what this meant in the datasheet: the VL53L5CX is able to detect different objects within the FoV with a distance information range up to 60 cm. The Histogram also provides immunity to cover glass crosstalk beyond 60 cm. Applications (reference) Robotics application for scene understanding (room mapping and obstacle detection)Wide FoV and multizone scanning allows content management (load in trucks, tanks, waste bins)Gesture recognitionLiquid level controlKeystone correction for video projectorsLaser assisted autofocus (LAF). Enhances the camera AF system speed and robustness, especially in difficult low light or low contrast scenes.Smart buildings and smart lighting (user detection to wake up devices)Use and object detectionVideo focus tracking: 60 Hz ranging allows optimization of continuous focus algorithm Testing The wiring of the sensor was relatively simple using I2C, where you just needed to connect the power, ground, SDA and SLC:<img width="960" height="1280" width_o="960" height_o="1280" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bd3275a3920c9727635101f370234f89c9d15def4c2bdaf899104bc022e7fb69/IMG_5922-Large.jpeg" data-mid="167506290" border="0" data-scale="43" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/960/i/bd3275a3920c9727635101f370234f89c9d15def4c2bdaf899104bc022e7fb69/IMG_5922-Large.jpeg" /> Sparkfun has a good library in the Arduino with examples, so it was relatively easy to set-up. The code just needed minor adjustments for the output formatting and a different frequency for sensor readings (changed it from&nbsp; the default 1Hz to 15Hz). Finally, together with Dror Margalit, we wrote a simple code for Serial communication and visualization in p5 to visualize the output:&nbsp;https://editor.p5js.org/DrorMargalit/sketches/aVrJbzFZT Here is the final testing and fun with the sensor: One thing that we learned is that the sensor didn’t update the distance if the ‘background’ objects were &gt;4 m away, i.e., out of the sensor’s range; the reading would remain at the last in-range reading. Maybe there is a way to fix that problem, but we haven’t found it yet. Resources https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/qwiic-tof-imager---vl53l5cx-hookup-guide#introduction https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/s/stmicroelectronics/vl53l5cx-time-of-flight-ranging-sensor https://github.com/sparkfun/SparkFun_Qwiic_ToF_Imager_VL53L5CX Assignment 1 - 31.01.2023 Intangible Interaction Among Us: The UNIQLO Experience For our intangible interaction (me, Elif and Vera), we chose the new self checkout in UNIQLO, which for first time users often feels like magic. You just place your clothes in the bin and the check-out automatically knows what is inside without anyone explicitly scanning the items. One of my assignment partners, Elif, went to investigate and here is what she observed:&nbsp; <img width="459.51219512195115" height="346.6845751614733" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/wPnxpELg9VkRkblMIhhWFkIHv2rfCeudgq629BmuTsdSTmsVLlJt8x5McTWbhYnrHQ8FdTYD7DuvPcQbPfZe1vxU0Wud0eC7HnAad4Rq3l2XdYGw4ASIvsxPdXiRB2B6cxrpKu69p2Vdxxga-hUyDpE"> Self checkout steps (some steps are not including in their chart but is a crucial part of the process: 1. Place items/basket in the scanning areaa- Enter the number of items. Confirm or try again - If you get this error message: “Seek assistance from a sales&nbsp;associate”, the employee will do the staff login. They will&nbsp;remove the ink tags2.&nbsp;Touch to proceed with transaction 3. Use card reader to complete the payment 4. Bag the item in the bagging area to finish your shopping Different types of tags Small items only have the RFID tags.&nbsp; Larger pieces have both the RFID tags and the ink tags to prevent shoplifting. If they are programmed, the RFID tags are triggered when the chip crosses the detection sensor and the alarm would be triggered to alert store employees to the theft. (Link) <img width="398.95081946732364" height="299.4545455823056" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Y16KTUfykanoSdhx6vf5mcUAfIjoIKuVE2rj3zUO84t9et7YZJF4KoDql9kPOqkv1BTUsbqy14zu9XAtMCEJg6igUJ4yQteP426wR3qIb28V2UAkyWuK84ymMbrLThZIkYyYX0aq8DSJJSKY90AWRnM" data-caption="RFID and ink tags"> <img width="366.57963446475196" height="276" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/UuXQLcEqwX1BP9Ea0_4ZxiGUrZX-yk4IjQl9PQG2JNjwHR8Zd9U_Cf8rspMjXu6M27kotp0PHSO-slZQlCMe7qFyKdnvCBHXw2M6UHu1giwmqThVcB4GWNXkxCZxyJ6Ip7eTNnVQQNIvHftzX0kWL-s" data-caption="RFID tags"> Implicit interaction design framework We analyzed the RFID check-out technology using the implicit interaction design framework (graphic made by Vera) <img width="5696" height="4500" width_o="5696" height_o="4500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6629226fcf9595bcc2fd5ba506b0d0c777df3fd65802e185a6a2dcb0cf77dac4/interaction-01.jpg" data-mid="166807543" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6629226fcf9595bcc2fd5ba506b0d0c777df3fd65802e185a6a2dcb0cf77dac4/interaction-01.jpg" /> Common errors of the system RFID label technology is used to eliminate the barcode scanning process and create a faster and smoother shopping experience. BUT, - Since entering the numbers of products is not one of the steps, people tend to remove everything from the basket and start counting before proceeding with the checkout. This leads to a longer buying experience. - When you get an error message, you have to wait for the sales associate to come by your self checkout machine and separate products with the ink tags. Then, they will bring those products to the other counter to remove the tags. Once they’re done, they’ll place those items in the basket and login with their staff ids. Now, you can proceed. If you’re going to wait for the ink tags to be removed, you might as well go to the other checkout counter. (not the self checkout). This also leads to a longer buying experience. How it works: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System The self-checkout technology at UNIQLO is based on the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which is commonly used for tracking and identification purposes. This technology came into the commercial realm in 1970’s, where the majority of early uses were related&nbsp; to electronic article surveillance (EAS) equipment to counter the theft of merchandise. Today RFID’s are used in numerous ways with some applications including: Race TimingSupply Chain ManagementInventory tracking (track and record an asset’s entire life cycle)Tracking: IT assets, laundry &amp; textile, file, tools, jewelry, retail, etc.Event &amp; Attendee TrackingAccess Control and FobsVehicle TrackingTollingHospital Infant TrackingAnimal TrackingLibrary Materials TrackingReal-Time Location Systems RFID tracking system has several advantages over other systems (like barcodes, for example): Does not require line-of-sight for scanning that barcode tracking systems use, making RFID a much faster and simpler tracking process. Hundreds of tags can be read in secondsRFID tax can be very&nbsp; durable.RFID tags can hold more data than other types of tags or labelsRead range for an RFID&nbsp; system can be controlled as needed from 0-150 metersTags could be encrypted or locked for security tag Memory can be rewritten and reused &nbsp; Radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.&nbsp; Within the electromagnetic spectrum, there are three primary frequency ranges used for RFID transmissions – Low Frequency, High Frequency, and Ultra-High Frequency. Different frequency ranges have different applications, distance ranges, and associated costs. For more information: https://www.atlasrfidstore.com/rfid-beginners-guide/ <img width="624" height="356.90563716851096" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lTl6b9zkb5hsJhRCB8ZZCugAoLnv4DF6nPHaFydlfHqVUzdJKVBMo_nAxX7Ca855LDZW-ETwvsVlMOGPi7W2hb7aJB2MrPhAEdjljZLnG1mkLmS2878mhU8KokWaJI9aXGTLQ9hKQsaOZgoMZTCvSWs" data-caption="Image source: https://www.atlasrfidstore.com/rfid-beginners-guide/"> System componentsRFID systems typically have four components: RFID tag, RFID reader, antenna, and a computer database. <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fI9EMmqGslgzExkm1SSymwyWehNHssU4aIJBA59KyzRxAqPXCbqsqQ_llbWG72-EPKau6U1-gfc16ZI4fN3NEYdlduQN3Uwcsx3RIHiwmQt48giAgc8y1UQpPTP5FDLXvUmtHpxxYBhW7c-dTOWaF5w" width="450" height="262" style="width: 450px; height: 262px;">Image source: https://www.shopify.com/in/retail/rfid-technology RFID tag: comprised of two parts – an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals, and an RFID chip (or integrated circuit) which stores information like ID number.&nbsp; <img width="154" height="153.72151898734177" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6c5noccg-y37uL5y1YvT5evr-UyhT4C2QmPoAkuujwYuKZk5JYZ8EIHreNfkVZAIyuGyzWB89VO1xhOSn8pSf3Y6JFwFIwViAguJ3Vxk49Kxa_9nESLtXLCU3fz1JVleWhtnLlqicsBldP2eKkF7tR0"> <img width="125" height="124" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0XP0X26WOsePFBDK7dSa0jiNFYyj6RD6eKce7IC4SYgKUHrJrcdju2B7hoPSBrUN0tGff1fCGh38W4xwHaKxS1w3ZFyJ38OR0Yln4x_34bnDHuLYohvtaLrzZYLYDlCJI8j72oVnezeFOUWYGfTtuDc"> There are three main categories of RFID tags: passive, semi-passive, and active. These categories refer to how the RFID tags transmit data, and how close you have to be to pick up their signals. Active tags use a built-in battery and onboard transmitter to send out intermittent electromagnetic signals. These typically have the largest read range and are the best choice for things like real-time tracking. Passive tags send or ‘reflect' back a signal that an RFID reader initially sends to them. These tags do not have a battery. Instead, they receive energy from the radio waves generated by the reader. When the tag receives the transmission from the reader/antenna, the energy runs through the internal antenna to the tag’s chip. The energy activates the chip, which modulates the energy with the desired information, and then transmits a signal back toward the antenna/reader. Passive tags have a limited distance range and they are one of the better options for things that are stored for extended periods of time. Semi-Passive tags have a battery, so have the power reserves for additional features, but no onboard transmitter. They are a good option if you need additional features in your tracking infrastructure, such as environmental monitoring. The range is still limited when compared to an active tag. 02. RFID reader (also known as interrogators):&nbsp; devices that transmit and receive radio waves in order to communicate with RFID tags. RFID readers are typically divided into two distinct types – fixed and mobile RFID readers. These also require power. 03. RFID antenna: convert the RFID reader’s signal into radio waves that can be picked up by RFID tags. Without some type of RFID antenna, whether integrated or standalone, the RFID reader cannot properly send and receive signals to RFID tags.RFID antennas receive their power directly from the reader. 04. Computer database: receives , processes and stores data from the RFID reader. When choosing an RFID system it is helpful to ask the following questions: - At what distance do you need to scan for items? -&nbsp;Which RFID tags do you need (Active, Passive, or Semi-Passive)? - Do you require weatherproof/durable tags? - What frequency do you need tags to operate at (Low, High, Ultra-High)? Redesign One thing that was unexpected yet delightful was watching people’s facial expressions as they used the ‘magic’ checkout for the first time. One aspect we wanted to introduce into the design is an automated candid photo capture, which would be taken at the beginning of the check-out experience. This photo would capture people’s fascination/confusion with the new technology. The images would then be shown at the exit, similar to what you would see after riding a roller coaster. As people become more familiar with the system and the candid photo process, we think that they would start curating their expressions for the photo at the beginning of their check-out experience. The customers would also have an option of printing their photo on the receipt, making this disposable item more unique and valuable. The receipt would not only be a record of what you bought that day, but also commemorate your state of being.&nbsp; <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6rlikyatW0AcA7ziL11_MzdK2p8PK405R73S6wGxgiY0xMoCen6-2sWr31oIp-P627U8NJejZ6DzUDHkQtn_E_Pkd2jA2Xm2S_qo2XxI8EZSv-7sNArQCeXkSzg4v_8BunC2mLuo5AFkXNtMVOsZOdg" width="490" height="293" style="width: 426.824px; height: 255.223px;" data-scale="66"> <img width="1908" height="1146" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1908/q/75/i/dd9761c7112aa87c35fbd9ccf03619d81992e4c0d43f832534dfcb3c81764da4/28CB5FA800000578-0-image-a-100_1431907530581.jpg" style="width: 316.884px; height: 190.33px;" data-scale="49">&nbsp; <img width="1400" height="898" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1400/q/75/i/250332572e6c88bdd8a44769f517a5459886505244f1f4283a6fc4af4e30b8b4/1665702.jpg.jpg" style="width: 303.95px; height: 194.962px;" data-scale="47"> Data Sources: https://tech.co/asset-tracking/rfid https://www.atlasrfidstore.com/rfid-beginners-guide/ https://www.shopify.com/in/retail/rfid-technology Landt, J. (2005). The history of RFID. IEEE potentials, 24(4), 8-11. https://marymark.cargo.site/Spring-2023 Mon, 30 Jan 2023 23:43:21 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/Spring-2023 Spring 2023 Courses Intangible InteractionsBiophilic Experiences Therapeutic Sensory Immersion Video Sculpture Recent Projects https://marymark.cargo.site/Home-Page Thu, 26 Jan 2023 21:51:55 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/Home-Page <img width="1888" height="1128" width_o="1888" height_o="1128" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4100e634392c016a86f43819305ec852dbefd9561a9ea7761cb1e5cb9e9398eb/MaryMark_thesis_hero2.jpg" data-mid="210493799" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4100e634392c016a86f43819305ec852dbefd9561a9ea7761cb1e5cb9e9398eb/MaryMark_thesis_hero2.jpg" />IT’S NEVER ME <img width="1823" height="1081" width_o="1823" height_o="1081" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/527f2e142bb66d25a6da2c35ca4bc58eb8ef975e817210f0d0798e7b28060686/URHimejiMain_Hero_cropped.png" data-mid="215926105" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/527f2e142bb66d25a6da2c35ca4bc58eb8ef975e817210f0d0798e7b28060686/URHimejiMain_Hero_cropped.png" /> UNDERSTANDING RISK 2024 <img width="1267" height="748" width_o="1267" height_o="748" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e07777bf6a9f1ed3615425f8cdae6f452e0b68a9504e6b98dac617e47b01e352/Reflecting-Forward-Large.jpeg" data-mid="205008241" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e07777bf6a9f1ed3615425f8cdae6f452e0b68a9504e6b98dac617e47b01e352/Reflecting-Forward-Large.jpeg" />REFLECTING FORWARD <img width="2380" height="1435" width_o="2380" height_o="1435" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/47ff9d8409ceb6e833a81813506b92b4aa8c34a946d13bac36c65277ef07b67e/Screenshot-2025-03-03-at-12.19.49PM.png" data-mid="227574427" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/47ff9d8409ceb6e833a81813506b92b4aa8c34a946d13bac36c65277ef07b67e/Screenshot-2025-03-03-at-12.19.49PM.png" />SERVED <img width="672" height="401" width_o="672" height_o="401" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c417ea416ab4a7aa3c5d2147931d17a7391b927f57e19f70424d4e8345dfc0e9/left-behind-thumb.jpg" data-mid="174216615" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/672/i/c417ea416ab4a7aa3c5d2147931d17a7391b927f57e19f70424d4e8345dfc0e9/left-behind-thumb.jpg" />LEFT BEHIND <img width="7952" height="4473" width_o="7952" height_o="4473" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5d159e8ce99574d35c7c1f483d9a4166440c6f65b48af13eed5e638c443a13d3/DSC09213.jpg" data-mid="174216526" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5d159e8ce99574d35c7c1f483d9a4166440c6f65b48af13eed5e638c443a13d3/DSC09213.jpg" />ONLY LOVE WILL SAVE US&nbsp; <img width="7942" height="4474" width_o="7942" height_o="4474" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/36e91a8e5db0e9e8cd97f32c220b483ba43843f3915ef70b6f9f3eaec52cfadb/dance-of-the-perlins.jpg" data-mid="174216576" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/36e91a8e5db0e9e8cd97f32c220b483ba43843f3915ef70b6f9f3eaec52cfadb/dance-of-the-perlins.jpg" />DANCE OF THE PERLINS <img width="2160" height="1223" width_o="2160" height_o="1223" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/37c14cf6abcacdcf4dc14b5ac6d99f8fa738174fff8515cddba64521f2eba9c7/Screen-Shot-2023-02-16-at-4.44.10-PM.png" data-mid="174216600" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/37c14cf6abcacdcf4dc14b5ac6d99f8fa738174fff8515cddba64521f2eba9c7/Screen-Shot-2023-02-16-at-4.44.10-PM.png" />UNDERSTANDING RISK 2022 <img width="863" height="486" width_o="863" height_o="486" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dea136d37273d05641412a4fbf059192803f2f741854d99b4ad7ed5512064200/Bahar-Oomad-Cover-2.jpg" data-mid="174216619" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/863/i/dea136d37273d05641412a4fbf059192803f2f741854d99b4ad7ed5512064200/Bahar-Oomad-Cover-2.jpg" /> BAHAR OOMAD <img width="3002" height="1695" width_o="3002" height_o="1695" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/119e8e846cdc2f24aeef950d93d72812fd38d99360482b59e268dcb92e825dc7/IMG_4588.jpg" data-mid="174216596" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/119e8e846cdc2f24aeef950d93d72812fd38d99360482b59e268dcb92e825dc7/IMG_4588.jpg" />MULTIVERSE SOUL QUEST Selected 2022-2024 works Experiments with new media <img width="3084" height="1952" width_o="3084" height_o="1952" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8a4f2380800ee904e9e4f42ad4884dc97f6e96fcbbcb25e657540c61da2ca09b/dreamscape_-hero.JPG" data-mid="205053821" border="0" alt="Dreamscape: interactive projection" data-caption="Dreamscape: interactive projection" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8a4f2380800ee904e9e4f42ad4884dc97f6e96fcbbcb25e657540c61da2ca09b/dreamscape_-hero.JPG" /> <img width="1280" height="960" width_o="1280" height_o="960" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/90d5155f13ab98021fe783d0dc9174ab85d08716b1ea4a2a25eda32e3e333cb6/IMG_8441-2-Large.jpeg" data-mid="174163859" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="interactive fiber optic installation" data-caption="interactive fiber optic installation" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/90d5155f13ab98021fe783d0dc9174ab85d08716b1ea4a2a25eda32e3e333cb6/IMG_8441-2-Large.jpeg" /> <img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2b3647c03cebda209a53607cbcce7e06163af8346da42e268d8b7242f8772397/IMG_8517.jpeg" data-mid="174163718" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="sentient robot ballet" data-caption="sentient robot ballet" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2b3647c03cebda209a53607cbcce7e06163af8346da42e268d8b7242f8772397/IMG_8517.jpeg" /> Who Am I? My name is Mary Mark. Come get a glimpse of my work and explore my recent&nbsp; installations, interactive mixed-media, wearables, projections, performances,&nbsp;research, and whatever else you like. I am a New York-based multimedia artist and producer. My work merges performance art, motion sensing, and generative AI and is rooted in academic and embodied research. I like to experiment with capturing and manipulating the movement outside of the body and examines our relationship to virtual entities. In addition, I am a creative director and producer for World Bank’s Understanding Risk community, where I get to direct large-scale productions that explore the interconnectedness of resilience, disasters, and innovation. I am also a disaster researcher, educator, and practitioner. My research and international development work investigate the impact of future disasters and climate on society to design equitable policies and risk reduction investments.&nbsp; Recent projects https://marymark.cargo.site/research-work Thu, 26 Jan 2023 21:51:55 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/research-work Color Rain created in p5.js Research Work My academic research interests center around computational techniques for regional disaster and climate risk modeling, post-disaster macroeconomic impact analysis, equitable metrics for household disaster consequenes, and application of machine learning techniques in risk quantification.&nbsp; I have conducted numerous risk assessments in Europe and Central Asia and helped governments integrate risk information into strategic decision-making and investment planning. PhD Thesis Title: Towards seismic resilience - a comprehensive approach to modeling earthquake consequences from regional hazard to household well-being (link). <img width="2788" height="964" width_o="2788" height_o="964" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/69fa9a9131160d1fb2f4e04020a30a6c910e6bcc26099d10701dc1967e7a89d5/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-6.59.49-PM.png" data-mid="166700255" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/69fa9a9131160d1fb2f4e04020a30a6c910e6bcc26099d10701dc1967e7a89d5/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-6.59.49-PM.png" /> Advisor: Dr. Jack Baker, Stanford University Research Publications&nbsp;Martin, A., Markhvida, M., Hallegatte, S., &amp; Walsh, B. (2020). Socio-economic impacts of COVID-19&nbsp;on household consumption and poverty. Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, 1-27. Markhvida, M., Walsh, B., Hallegatte, S., &amp; Baker, J. (2020). Quantification of disaster impacts through household well-being losses. Nature Sustainability, 1-10. Markhvida, M., Cremen, G., Grujic, O., Ceferino, L., &amp; Baker, J. (2020). Methods for evaluation and treatment of epistemic uncertainty in portfolio losses due to earthquakes. In Proceedings of 17th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (17WCEE). Markhvida, M., &amp; Baker, J. (2018). Unification of seismic performance estimation and real estate investment analysis to model post-earthquake building repair decisions. Earthquake Spectra, 34(4), 1787-1808Markhvida, M., Ceferino, L., &amp; Baker, J. (2018). Modeling spatially correlated spectral accelerations at multiple periods using principal component analysis and geostatistics. Earthquake Engineering &amp; Structural Dynamics, 47(5), 1107-1123. Markhvida, M., Ceferino, L., &amp; Baker, J. (2017). Effect of ground motion correlation on regional seismic loss estimation: application to Lima, Peru using a cross-correlated principal component analysis model. In Proceedings of 12th International Conference on Structural Safety &amp; Reliability (ICOSSAR12). World Bank Publications Economics for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness: Investment in Disaster Risk Management in Europe Makes Economic Sense.&nbsp;(2021). World Bank, Washington, DC. Economics for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness: Financial Risk and Opportunities to Build Resilience in Europe.&nbsp;(2021). World Bank, Washington, DC. Earthquake Risk in Multifamily Residential Buildings: Europe and Central Asia Region.(2020). World Bank, Washington, DC. https://marymark.cargo.site/it-s-never-me Wed, 08 May 2024 04:50:33 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/it-s-never-me It’s Never Me <img width="2630" height="1348" width_o="2630" height_o="1348" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ce3a725a9fda724a98b7d97f51e2b202ecfd64c5b006f62c1e69b78605a35d4f/MaryMark_thesis_hero.png" data-mid="210493479" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ce3a725a9fda724a98b7d97f51e2b202ecfd64c5b006f62c1e69b78605a35d4f/MaryMark_thesis_hero.png" /> Thesis Work 2024 It's Never Me is a movement-based investigation that seeks new ways of processing information to lessen the burden of our existence. It harnesses the power of collective thinking by outsourcing sentiment and engaging the public to understand the emotional state of the subject. The investigation culminates in the creation of a fully autonomous virtual dancer, Notame. The work is exhibited in three parts: Book of Movement - a video sculpture showcasing Notame's movement foundation and the basis of her thinking mind. Who leads? - an interactive video MoCap-enabled installation that allows anyone to dance in a duet with Notame. Metamorphosis - a real-time motion capture performance with Notame, exploring the themes of escapism, existence in a blended physical/digital space, hopelessness and the search for liberation. Huge thank you to Shamar Watt and Cheri Hassami who took part in the project. . https://marymark.cargo.site/understanding-risk-2024-Himeji Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:58:17 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/understanding-risk-2024-Himeji Understanding Risk Global Forum 2024: Opening Ceremony Opening Ceremony (length: 2 hrs)&nbsp; Creative director: Mary Mark Design studio: Everthing Good Studio Event host: World Bank, GFDRR 2024 In June 2024, the World Bank held the Global Understanding Risk Forum in Himeji, Japan - a biennial conference that convenes experts and practitioners from around the world to showcase the best practices and latest innovations in the field of disaster risk identification and management. I had the privilege of being a Creative Director for the UR24 Opening Ceremony. Creating this show has been a long and rewarding journey, where our aim was to craft a balance of Japanese tradition and innovation in the context of disaster resilience.&nbsp; The ceremony featured Shodo and Taiko performances, a keynote by the world-renowned architect Shigeru Ban, many inspiring speakers, original animations and custom-designed elements such as programmable Andon lanterns. Thank you to the many talented people in Japan and worldwide who made this production possible. https://marymark.cargo.site/served Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:24:46 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/served Served 3-part interactive projection and XR installation&nbsp; Artist: Mary Mark 2023 Served is a three-part installation that explores our relationship to digital human entities,examining shifting power dynamics within a combined virtual-physical space. The audience is invited to "consume" a three-course meal by interacting with three virtual female figures presented on individual physical plates. Drawing from feminist theories, this installation examines the continued objectification and consumption of women’s bodies, now in a virtual space. Each course presents an increasing mode of interaction with the digital figures, which are under both literal and metaphorical "gazes": Served 1: Non-relational and observatory. Here, an abstract projection of a female figure from a bird’s-eye view moves across the plate, inviting the audience to observe without direct interaction. Herein the woman is reduced to passive objects of visual consumption, existing primarily for an external viewer's pleasure. Served 2: Relational awareness. In this mode, the virtual figure, displayed as a 3D “Pepper’s Ghost” hologram illusion, becomes aware of the observer’s presence. A live-streamed actress alternates between observing and being observed, playing with the audience and attempting to take back control. This interplay explores the dynamics of performative self- objectification and empowerment. Served 3: Power dynamic and interference. In this mixed-reality experience, the observer holds power over the virtual entity, where they see the female figure dancing on the plate and have ability to interfere with her performance by ‘physically’ handling the figure. This echoes the fact that female autonomy and agency are restricted or granted by external forces. Through these interactions, Served critiques the entrenched notions of objectification and power, encouraging viewers to recognize and reflect upon their own roles within these dynamics. The installation challenges the ways women are reduced to consumable objects, whether in visual media or physical spaces, echoing calls to disrupt these traditional power structures and reimagine new ways of relating to women and digital representations.<img width="4032" height="3024" width_o="4032" height_o="3024" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/db7e74423edd83ee34d49f1ea67e35dfc71d71d22307e5a5bac6d3185c3b7a91/Served-Image-1---set-up.jpg" data-mid="227574747" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/db7e74423edd83ee34d49f1ea67e35dfc71d71d22307e5a5bac6d3185c3b7a91/Served-Image-1---set-up.jpg" /> https://marymark.cargo.site/reflecting-forward Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:11:22 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/reflecting-forward Reflecting Forward<img width="1267" height="748" width_o="1267" height_o="748" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/68da17236ce707f6191a4ce5e491bbf38577e4b05fa0bc1d2f719f13aeba6020/Reflecting-Forward-Large.jpeg" data-mid="205008250" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/68da17236ce707f6191a4ce5e491bbf38577e4b05fa0bc1d2f719f13aeba6020/Reflecting-Forward-Large.jpeg" /> Interactive video installation Co-created with Dror Margalit 2023 Relecting Forward was created as part of the&nbsp;*This Is Not A Drill* 2023 NYU fellowship. This Is Not A Drill 2023 from NYU-TV on Vimeo. We are currently witnessing unprecedented consequences of climate change, where July 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded on Earth. With such vast global changes, it is hard to imagine what life will feel like in the foreseeable future. Yet, despite the extreme uncertainty, we have to make decisions today that will affect generations to come. To help guide decisions and understand the implications of our collective actions, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – a global scientific community on climate change – proposed five storylines of climate and social trajectories. Reflecting Forward is an interactive video installation that invites viewers to ponder the possible climate futures. The scientific community and IPCC present a set of plausible scenarios ranging from “most optimistic” to “avoid at all costs” that paint a picture of five possible global development and emission paths and their consequences. Using stories and visual imagery inspired by the data from these scenarios, the piece provides a glimpse of what alternative future realities could mean for each one of us. The central object of Reflecting Forward is a mirror. As viewers approach and spend more time with their reflection, the mirror begins to reveal snapshots of the future. The visuals explore the relationship between the local and global environments through twelve stories (generated through an iterative and collaborative process with generative AI)&nbsp; that mark the crucial shifts in the climate throughout the five scenarios: <img width="830" height="1280" width_o="830" height_o="1280" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/29d3fbe64b21e131fb16f819318375860129d5d2958c6f983e284cf3d8f9266d/reflecting-forward-mirror.jpeg" data-mid="191415441" border="0" data-scale="100" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/830/i/29d3fbe64b21e131fb16f819318375860129d5d2958c6f983e284cf3d8f9266d/reflecting-forward-mirror.jpeg" /> SSP5-8.5, +1.5C, 2028 It is 2028 in the heart of the Amazon, an emerald womb of the world struggling under an iron sky. But seasons do not change like they used to. The bountiful rain and the earthy scent in the wind has been replaced by the ominous crackling of wildfire, echoing like a death knell. The vibrant chorus of the jungle slowly hushes, as if holding its breath, bracing for the encroaching inferno. Under that life-choking veil of smoke, survival is a daily combat. But even as Mother Nature holds her breath, the world around the Amazon continues its relentless dance with fossil fuel and the promise of economic growth and prosperity. Technological marvels thunder around the globe, their echo drowned in the hushed whispers of the dying jungle SSP5-8.5, +2C, 2042 In the throbbing heart of the vast, arid expanse of Central Africa, an old man glares at the cruel-taunting sun that hangs perpetually in the sky. The wind carries whispers of a time when the earth cradled lush greens, a time that may as well be a fantasy. Maize stalks, once golden, lie wilted and beaten into the parched earth, never to rise again. The waterhole, once teeming with life, is now reduced to a withering pit. Mortality haunts the animal kingdom; all species succumb to this lethal heat.In the hardened calluses on old man’s feeble hands are untold stories of forced migrations, of life and death battles for habitable lands. The year is 2041 and the earth, angered by years of exploitation, is unforgiving, yet the man stubbornly clings on, a testament to defiant human spirit. SSP5-8.5, +3C, 2065Heavy air clings to us like a shroud, the stifling heat causing everything and everyone to move sluggishly. Even time seems to have slowed down, wearied by the relentless sun. Sweat drips from my brow, tracing rivulets down my leathery skin. As we prey for the heat to stop, we remember how a few mere months ago floods have swept up more than just our possessions, they carried away pieces of our identity, leaving us treading in its path, holding onto any semblance of hope. New technologies rise around us, mirages, in steel and glass, mocking our frantic efforts for survival. Our faith wavered, with the dying sunlight. We thought we could manage this, could engineer our way past nature's fury. We were wrong. Our once populated streets are now the domain of relentless heat that slowly siphons our spirits away. The unrelenting iron grip of climate change tightens, and in its merciless grasp, we find our lives, reduced to mere survival. The chilling truth now resounds in our hearts - we traded the cool breath of Mother Nature for this searing district of despair. SSP5-8.5, +4C, 2085 The sun blazes defiantly on a barren world named Earth. Dust swirls where dense forests once stood, currents of air whipping them into tornados that dance across the sickly brown landscape. Farmers cursed with relentless drought measure their lives in failed harvests. In the heart of this desolation, a man named Samuella clings to survival. Once a botanist, Samuella now tends flora that barely resemble what she'd studied. Their leaves waxy against the heat, stems sun-bleached and brittle. Each day, she wakes to the bone-dry incandescence, coaxing life from the parched ground. Water is precious; most of it kept underground to avoid evaporation. Every drop goes to her plants and her own parched throat. Samuella hopes. She must. As the sun turns the world to furnace, the hope keeps her alive. What was once a world teeming with life, is now a testament to resilience. Samuella, the plant caretaker, refuses to yield. SSP3-7.0, +1.5C, 2031 Nestled in the heart of Appalachia, the quaint town of Smoky Pine faces the trials of a changing world. Smoky Pine is wilting, the summer heat no longer a passing grip, but a relentless oppressor. Days are searing, nights, a mockery of respite. The quaint cabins now tin boxes under an unyielding sun. Unseen hands stoke the fiery heat, making the once verdant greens stoop to the might of a relentless summer. The Pine River, their pride, is a lethargic serpent struggling to beat mind-numbing heat, its playful gush reduced to a wheezing trickle. It's not just the heat. It's the silence. The woods, once teeming with nature's orchestra, echo a disturbing quietude. The black bears, the red foxes, a memory receding every passing day. The town’s souls weathered by harsh winter's kiss now dream of cold. In Smoky Pine, the seasons of joy are remembered, retold, relived, but mostly in past tense. SSP3-7.0, +2C, 2047 In the sweltering heart of 2047, we huddle in our homes tucked away in the foothills of Cordillera de Talamanca, the whisper of the last Volcano Hummingbird echoing through barren trees, her color lost to our children's memory. The air's sticky embrace was once a welcome, tropical caress, but now, it's a deadly stranglehold reminding us of our wrongs. Dirt roads crumble into neglect as our once bustling markets now stand empty. Increasing precipitation drowns our crops, leaving marshes as mocking reminders of crop fields. A far cry from the abundant paradise of our ancestors, we hunker stubbornly amidst an environment gasping for breath beneath the crushing weight of our ambitions. Yet, the biggest irony of all, is that we are less afraid of dying than we are of admitting we were wrong. SSP3-7.0, +3C, 2076 In the sultry tropics of Southeast Asia, an old fisherman named Anh steps into his slender, well-worn boat. Sweat pours down his weathered face, a constant reminder of the merciless heat - a devilous monster that never relents. Day by day, his nets come up emptier. The vibrant, diverse aquatic life of his youth, which once teemed beneath the azure surface, now more legend than reality. The rising temperatures have created a deadly playground for the once friendly waters. With hollowed eyes, he takes in the sparse, singed vegetation around him - victims of&nbsp; encroaching changes, a cruel thief robbing them of their lushness. Anh heaves a sigh resonating with the collective fatigue of his village - their resiliency tested and worn. His dreams are haunted by the ghost of the past. But as the sun relentlessly scorches, dreams fade as swiftly as the receding shoreline. SSP2-4.5, +1.5C, 2031In the heart of bustling Tokyo, the mercury rises steadily, a concrete testament to humanity's struggle against a warming planet. People scurry through the streets, their masks a shield against the relentless heat. Amid this infantry of survival, a young girl Miko daydreams about the ocean's blue waves, now carrying warm current. She remembers the colorful fish species she admired in picture books, now losing their homes to warmer waters. The hills, once green with vegetation, now echo with the mourning of displaced wildlife. Meanwhile, her father, a salaryman, grapples with economic uncertainties and the societal strain. Yet, amidst this turbulence, Tokyo's spirit remains unwavering. The city diligently forges ahead, with slow steps towards a new reality. As her bedtime story, Miko hears about the resilience of her people and dreams of a future where her city embraces both progress and the planet. SSP2-4.5, +2C, 2053 On a sprawling vineyard in the heart of France, a vintner wakes to yet another unnaturally warm morning. Her landscape, once profoundly in sync with the seasons, trembles under the yoke of an abnormal temperature increase. As the searing sun blazes overhead, the grapevines struggle to fruit . Seasons of irregular precipitation have taken a toll, with winters deluging once peacefully glazed terrains. The vineyard, once a beacon of agrarian prosperity, teeters on the brink of survival, trapped in a tug-of-war between flooding and droughts.Life, however, clings stubbornly. The vintner experiments with newer, resilient grape varieties that can withstand the climate’s cruel tricks. Wines taste different; the nostalgia of traditional flavors is a luxury of the past. Innovation becomes a pathway to survival. As the wine world wrestles with the implications of climate change, life goes on in the vineyard, bittersweet as a half-empty glass of wine. SSP1-2.6, +1.5C, 2033 Bangkok clamors beneath a relentless sun. The high temperature is climbing up beyond the hot summer days, beating down on a thriving city now, more than ever, aware of its environmental role. Buildings, once just concrete towers, are cloaked in a second skin, retrofitted for a new era of energy efficiency. Schoolchildren learn in cool classrooms while rooftop gardens bustle with life, each an oasis in the urban desert. Meanwhile, the Chao Phraya River teems with activity as new hydropower turbines are being installed - a testament to Thailand's pivot to renewable energy. In the heart of the city, new technology hums, silently sipping power from the sun and wind. But as night falls and the heat lingers, not everyone in the city reaps the benefits of the technological breakthroughs. Many are left wondering how they will make it through this relentless summer heat. Bangkok adapts, fights, survives: a testament to a world in flux, blazoned by climate change. SSP1-1.9, +1.5C, 2035 In the heart of Africa, 2035 arrives with sweltering heat. Shadows shorten under the intense midday sun, and rivers, once raging, trickle into dusty beds. People wrestle with the heat, the air heavy like a woolen blanket on a summer's day. Yet, there's an air of hope, resilient like the Baobab standing tall in the savannah. The village teacher, now runs her lessons in the cool dawn light. Energy efficiency is not just a promise now, it is a necessity. Newly retrofitted clay huts offer soothing respite, resembling giant termite mounds, designed by nature to weather such scorching climes. The world around is changing. An enormous solar array hums softly at the outskirts of the village. It's not a rival to the sun's fury, but a harness of its energy to light, to cook, and to communicate with the world beyond. Farmers discuss carbon sequestration as they sow, as comfortable with the concept as with their ploughs. In a world heating up, they adapt and seize each opportunity to turn the desert greener, to breathe cleaner and to live better. SSP1-1.9, +1.5C, 2071, decreasing In the shadow of towering steel giants painted with the brilliance of solar cells, a young girl, Lin, soars on borrowed wings. Her hands tightly gripping the throttle of her electric bicycle – a reliable steed in the bustling metropolis blanketed beneath clean cobalt skies. Time has been kind to her city. Taught by the humbling lessons of its past, it now breathes in harmony with the earth.Solar-powered skyscrapers reach for the heavens, their metallic hide gleaming under the gentle, unrelenting kiss of sunlight. Vast seas of concrete and steel are now intertwined with lavish green arteries, turning once lifeless urban plains into thriving oases. Streets hum softly beneath her tires, echoing with the symphony of sustainable lives - no grumbling gas-guzzlers, no choking fumes.The city is alive, its pulse, a testament to mankind's collective victory over their greatest adversary yet – their old selves. The storms that once chased her kind indoors are now whispers of a turbulent past. It's a fresh dawn, a world reshaped. As she rides, she revels in its tranquility, in resilience, in rebirth. https://marymark.cargo.site/left-behind Tue, 04 Apr 2023 03:56:34 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/left-behind Left Behind // Geride Kalanlar <img width="3353" height="2083" width_o="3353" height_o="2083" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b25998012c5141b7e285e0d924f456ac9e6b7911fef360ef224da197be3da75f/clock.jpg" data-mid="174390331" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b25998012c5141b7e285e0d924f456ac9e6b7911fef360ef224da197be3da75f/clock.jpg" /> Multi-channel video installation Co-created with Zeynep Elif Ergin 2023 Left Behind (Geride Kalanlar) is a multi-channel video installation that is a tribute to the lives lost in the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake. On February 6, 2023 two major earthquakes struck Southern Turkey and Northern Syria 9 hours apart, followed by thousands of aftershocks. These earthquakes caused extreme and widespread damage across tens of cities, with more than 50,000 deaths and over 100,000 injuries, where for days many people were trapped under the ruins waiting for the rescuers who may never come. Millions of people have been left without home and will continue to be affected for the years to come.The video installation is comprised of two video channels: one in a shape of a clock with post-earthquake footage and one that shows the tweets from the affected region in Turkish and English (translated). Both the footage and the tweets are taken from the first three days after earthquake.&nbsp; Twitter was an essential mean of communication after the earthquake, where many people who were trapped and their families would use tweets as a plea for rescue help. <img width="2024" height="2108" width_o="2024" height_o="2108" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3a29d6488a0b6aecc98096182db8074f1a4cfc28b92ebaf09c649ff528eae822/tweet-example.jpg" data-mid="174388851" border="0" data-scale="92" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3a29d6488a0b6aecc98096182db8074f1a4cfc28b92ebaf09c649ff528eae822/tweet-example.jpg" /> Time is an important aspect in this piece. The video is 70 seconds long -- the length of the significant earthquake shaking. It prompts the viewer to think about the scale of damage that can occur in such a short time. The clock itself has a motor-powered physical component that is sped up to represent the passing of 72 hours. This period marks the critical time that the search &amp; rescue crews and volunteers have to rescue people alive. As the piece advances, the video and clock slow down and eventually stop. Even though time keeps passing by the lives that are lost are frozen in time and the clock doesn’t matter anymore.&nbsp; https://marymark.cargo.site/only-love-will-save-us Thu, 26 Jan 2023 21:51:56 +0000 Mary Mark's Exploratory Chaos https://marymark.cargo.site/only-love-will-save-us Only Love Will Save Us <img width="7952" height="4473" width_o="7952" height_o="4473" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5d159e8ce99574d35c7c1f483d9a4166440c6f65b48af13eed5e638c443a13d3/DSC09213.jpg" data-mid="166394256" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5d159e8ce99574d35c7c1f483d9a4166440c6f65b48af13eed5e638c443a13d3/DSC09213.jpg" /> Immersive video installation Co-created with Neeti Sivakumar and Dror Margalit Music: Florent Ghys 2022 Today, people across the world continue to fight for basic human rights. Brave individuals lead and inspire protest movements, in many cases risking their freedom and lives for speaking out. “Only Love Will Save Us” is an immersive video installation that tells the story of Maria Kalesnikava, one of the three women who, in the summer of 2020, led the protest movement against longtime Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko after he rigged the presidential election in his favor. &nbsp; This piece is a tribute to Maria and other political prisoners who sacrificed their freedom to retain their voice and stand up to dictatorships. Shortly after the elections in Belarus, Maria was unjustly imprisoned and is now serving an 11-year sentence. In this interactive installation, one person needs to temporarily ‘sacrifice’ their freedom to amplify and tell Maria’s story. They volunteer to go inside of a human-sized box, representing a jail cell, where they have to stay for a period of ~2 minutes so that people on the outside can hear and see Maria’s story. When the person is inside, an animation is projected on the outside of the box for the rest of the audience to see. Inside of the box, the voluntarily confined person can explore information, quotes and news articles pasted on the walls about Maria Kalesnikava and the opposition movementment in Belarus. This piece was first exhibited at the ITP Winter Show in December 2022. The video that is projected on the outside of the box includes&nbsp;excerpts of Maria’s various speeches accompanied by an animation captured with Motion Capture and rendered in Unity (full video shown below). Throughout the story, Maria’s talks about the government’s attempts to turn people against each other through violence and imprisonment; she also urges people not to give into aggression, to support and love each other, and to rebuild the country with legal and peaceful means. The animation shows a person (i.e., a point cloud figure) who starts in a jail cell, but then walks out into a field of flowers (symbolic for Belarusian protesters). The animation ends with the figure back in the jail cell that is now covered with flowers – a symbol for Maria’s message and a shift of perspective in people’s minds. Music Credit: Gold by Florent Ghys While this piece features the story of Maria Kolesnikova, the message of oppression and continued fight for human rights and freedom is universal.