(c) Ralf Baecker 2004 - 2022
“Break the pattern which connects the items of learning and you necessarily destroy all quality” — Mind and Nature, Gregory Bateson
The Conversation is an autonomous apparatus that consists of 99 solenoids mounted in a circle. Together they carry three rubber bands (attractors) in their center. Each magnet acts autonomously and aims to adapt to the forces in the network. Depending on the tension, measured by analyzing the changes of the electromagnetic induction in the electromagnets, the solenoids adjust their pulling intensity/force in order to conserve their position.
Similar to a homeostat it tries to establish a hyper-stable equilibrium. The rubber band acts as a mediator between the single autonomous entities. Environmental noise and friction picked up by electronic and mechanical elements prevent the machine from achieving its task. Constellations appear and stay until disturbances make them decay. The whole installation is immersed in a polyphonic buzz generated by the constant shifting forces of the solenoid array.