The inspiration for Hyperobject X Edinburgh comes from Timothy Morton’s concept of the Hyperobject. This concept views the entire Earth as a whole and elevates the status of objects to the same level as humans. Therefore, in this installation art, we elevate the Place within the Hyperobject to a position equal to that of humans. As people look at Lidar data, they also become like Lidar, scanning the entire Place within Hyperobject Edinburgh.
Heidegger mentioned the world and the earth in The origin of the work of art. The earth is the foundation on which the world is revealed, and the world is displayed through the earth; thus, in our installation art, Data is our earth, the basis of all our works, without which these works would not be created. At the same time, this Hyperobject Edinburgh is displayed in a new way because of the existence of Data.
In Hyperobject X Edinburgh, there are a total of seven works, including paper that materializes Lidar data, an interactive installation at ECA and Dean Village, a video installation at EFI and Vennel Steps, 3D printed works depicting movement and stillness in superimposed states and 3D printed works of Scottish blackface sheep.
The paper materializing Lidar data is the heart of the entire installation art, it not only connects the works in various Places but also guides people to reconsider these digital data, questioning if, from the perspective of Lidar, Edinburgh under Hyperobject is merely a set of numbers?
Figure 1: Paper project
ECA and EFI, as parts of the University of Edinburgh, not only represent various aspects of our lives but also symbolize a vision for the future world. Vennel Steps and Dean Village are more like representatives of the city, each connecting different places within Edinburgh. Vennel Steps, linking Lauriston Place and West Port, provides a beautiful view of Edinburgh Castle, thanks to its location. Vennel Steps, linking Lauriston Place and West Port, provides a beautiful view of Edinburgh Castle,thanks to its location.
Figure 2: ECA project
Figure 3: EFI project
Figure 4: Dean Village project
Figure 5: Vennel Steps project
The only human-created 3D print that brings the perspective into the superimposed state of motion and stillness, illustrates that humans are inherently limited and can be influenced by other factors, thanks to the existence of this superimposed state. The Scottish Blackface sheep toy and the hat it seemingly ‘created’ itself represent Scotland, and also whimsically places a hat made from its own Lidar data on the Scottish Blackface sheep.
Figure 6: Human project
Figure 7: Scottish Blackface sheep project
