insectarios del desvío

Contributors: Sarah Henry, Elias Sarquis, Lía Acevedo

Artistic Challenge

We set out to create an immersive experience where visitors could engage with kinetic, interactive robotic insects in a dynamic and evolving environment. The goal was to explore how movement, sound, and unexpected interactions could generate new forms of storytelling and audience participation.

Approach

To bring this vision to life, we developed a multi-layered installation that combined robotics, projection mapping, and interactive elements. The space was designed to feel like a living, shifting ecosystem where the audience’s presence shaped the experience in real time.

Key Features:

• Interactive robotic insects powered by servomotors and microcontrollers, each with its own unique movement pattern and behavior.
• Custom-built projection system that mapped abstract visuals onto sheer fabric, creating an ethereal, layered visual effect.
• Visitor participation through a localized WiFi network, allowing attendees to influence the movement and behaviors of the robotic insects.
• Sound integration using vibrations and mechanical sounds from the moving insects to reinforce the sense of presence and immersion.

Execution

The installation was set up in the Salón de los Espejos at Casa Belgrado in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The experience evolved over two phases:

Phase 1: A structured viewing experience where visitors observed the robotic insects and projections in a more traditional exhibit format.

Phase 2: A fully immersive, interactive space where visitors could engage with the installation by affecting the movement and behavior of the robotic creatures.

Technical Setup:

• Three long-throw projectors
• Raspberry Pi system with mapped visuals
• 75m of sheer fabric for projection surfaces
• LED string lights and adjustable smart lighting for environmental control
• Insect colonies and components:
  • Quadrupedal Bugs: Powered by ESP8266, using 4-8 SG90 servomotors for movement, with an OLED display for status updates and messages.
  • Climbing Insects: TT Gear Motor-driven with custom 3D-printed legs that generate rhythmic sound and a rechargeable Li-Ion battery for extended operation.
  • Minimalist Wandering Insects: Compact design with a vibrating micro-motor and coin cell battery for erratic motion

Results

The project exceeded expectations, generating spontaneous and meaningful interactions between the audience and the robotic creatures. Visitors engaged deeply with the installation, experimenting with different ways to influence the movement and behaviors of the robotic insects. The use of projection and lighting created a shifting, almost dreamlike environment that added to the sense of immersion.

Key takeaways:

• The interactive elements were highly effective in encouraging participation and engagement.
• The sound and movement of the robotic creatures successfully reinforced the themes of persistence and resistance.
• Future opportunities include refining the visual identity of the robotic insects and expanding the interaction possibilities for visitors.
• Next Steps

Looking ahead, Insectario del Desvío has potential for expansion as a traveling installation, adapting to different spaces and incorporating new interactive layers. Enhancements could include:

• More responsive behaviors based on real-time visitor interactions.
• Additional environmental effects, such as sound-responsive lighting.
• Iterations on insect design to strengthen visual coherence and movement diversity.

By continuing to evolve, this project will remain an open-ended exploration of movement, interactivity, and presence, inviting audiences to engage with it in new and unexpected ways.

Show Dates: Nov 27-28, 2024 | Site: Casa Belgrado in Buenos Aires, Argentina | UNTREF