Wetland

An exploration of our relationship with two of the most common and important reticulated systems in contemporary Australian life: water and data.

'Wetland' is an interactive installation that seeks to promote community discourse on the sensitive and topical issues around the consumption and management of water.

Rising populations, expanding urban and industrial development, drought, fire and salinity all put pressure on this vital natural resource that is becoming increasingly unreliable.

In contrast, an important resource experiencing exponential growth is data; and we have created systems to manage it in the image of our reticulated water systems. Abundant, flowing and easily accessible, contemporary life is 'data rich' - but its usefulness and quality are questionable while the sheer quantity of it threatens to inundate us.

'Wetland' is framed in the tensions that exist between the extremes of waste and need, wet and dry, water and data. The work proposes that unless our attitudes and consumption patterns change, it may mean that in the near future, the only way to experience water will be through data - and a visit to 'Wetland'.

'Wetland'.... as in 'Disneyland'

Description

'Wetland' is of a pool of digital media assets (sounds and video loops) that respond to fluctuations in a regional water authority's water monitoring system.

Pre-determined parameters are mapped to various attributes of two video channels and eight audio channels. Changing data values affect the selection, colour, volume and modulation, etc of the media assets.

In central Victoria, the Coliban Water Authority monitors more than 220 sites with 7,500 data points that include values such as reservoir levels, flow rates, pressure levels, pump run times and water quality parameters such as pH, chlorine and turbidity.

Employing this data to control the media assets means that every property connected to the reticulated water system acts as part of an interface. Every flush of a toilet, use of a washing machine or even the simple act of turning a tap on or off can effect change in the exhibition space.

By simply substituting the data of one water authority with that from another, 'Wetland' becomes intimately relevant in any regional context and the changing data values ensure a continually unique exhibition.

Details

'Wetland' consists of four main elements:
Data provided by a local water authority, a library of natural water sounds, a library of video loops and two sculptural panels.

Panels

A panel of rolled 50mm stainless steel tubes stacked horizontally invokes the notion of storage while the other, constructed of 19mm tubes arranged vertically, suggests flow. An array of loudspeakers is built into each panel and projectors are programmed to display videos on the curved surfaces without distortion.

Data

Water monitoring data is sent by the participating water authority to a computer in the exhibition space. 'Wetland' uses a large number of parameters such as inward/outward pump pressure values, pH balances, turbidity etc., to control the various attributes of eight audio channels and two video channels.

Audio

Sound loops are selected, triggered or manipulated by incoming data. Attributes such as volume, pitch and modulation are affected. Eight audio outputs are connected to loudspeakers embedded inside the panels as well as being placed discretely around the exhibition space.

Video

A video loop is projected onto each of the curved panels. Loops are selected and manipulated by incoming data. Attributes such as playback speed and RGB colour values can be changed as well the application of blur, displacement and mosaic filters.

Gallery

'Wetland' was permanently retired in 2018 after touring galleries and festivals in regional Victoria.