Active [Drawing] Matter

Just back from University of Bristol developing new work with the Applied Maths dept. The work comprises of a circular blackboard with speakers attached to its underside. When sounds of starling murmurations are played at a specific frequency, the blackboard vibrates causing the chalks placed upon it to move in active matter formations. The artwork is inspired by the concept of Active Matter and mathematicians’ use of blackboards as a collaborative thinking space. Active Matter systems are composed of patterns of collective motion typically demonstrated by large numbers of active agents. They can be microscopic, such as cell division and the movement of micro particles, or macroscopic such as flocks of starlings or shoals of fish.