`Tri-Aura'

New exhibit unveiled at the Science Museum in July

Karen Davies

Intriguing sounds from the `Tri-Aura' interactive exhibit (an innovative art/sound sculpture), can be heard by visitors to the Science Museum. The exhibit is situated on the First Floor by the pendulum staircase. Some sceptics said it would last five minutes in the Museum's environment, but a month later it still stands, having survived vigorous usage by our more enthusiastic visitors! This exhibit is an artistic interpretation of the three 'elements': earth, fire and water and is a visual and sound delight. Small crowds are seen clustered around it daily. Visitors (old and young alike) have quite literally been charmed, intrigued and teased by it this summer.

How Does `Tri-Aura' Work?

Electroplated sections of each panel sense and respond to body presence and movement, electronically converting that movement to light and sound. Thus, when a visitor moves slowly in front of the panels, the exhibit reacts by appearing to sing and glow. The textile used for the panels is called Ultra and is made from wool acrylic and PVC by Universal Carbon Fibres. It has been selectively contoured and electroplated in copper and nickel.

`Tri-Aura' was specially commissioned for the `Challenge of Materials' gallery, which is due to open in May 1997. The gallery is all about materials-what they are, how they are made, how they are used and how they are disposed of, with the UK Steel Industry as principal sponsor.

Artist Francis Geesin and sound architect Ron Geesin created 'Tri-Aura' with the help of electronics and computer engineer Spencer Childs. To the project team, it represents a gallery milestone-our first prototype exhibit to be put on public display and tested. It also uses art as an interesting interpretative medium for a material story.

Contact: Karen Davies, Challenge of Materials Project Team, Tel. 020 7938 8175

Newsletter Autumn 1996 Contents

News > News articles from the Autumn Newsletter | Millennium and Heritage Fund Award news

Articles > New interactive Exhibitions in Science Museum Heritage Fund Award | 'Tri-Aura' Sound exhibit at the Science Museum | Mirrors Exhibit suitable for toilets in your centres! | Magic Pennies - a magnetic exhibit | Report from the World Science Centre Congress | Report from the Science Communicator's Forum at the BA | Science On-Line, Web Pages for Education | New Exhibition on Risk | Launch Pad, London Science Museum - 10th Birthday |