heat-sensitive wallpaper by shi yuan

graphic designer, shi yuan created a project entitled 'design with life' to explore how print design can evolve
over time, coming to life. the project included this wallpaper design that contains heat-sensitive ink.
when heat is applied, for instance from a radiator, the vine pattern blooms colourful flowers. while only
one pattern was designed, this idea could be exploited in some pretty interesting ways.

Touch Me (2005-2009) by Zane Berzina

		"I am fascinated by the dermis as a material, sensor, contact organ and medium for non-verbal communications. While our lives are increasingly surrounded with artificial intelligence and digital networks I am interested in the directness of the skin - skin as an analogue system. [...] The Touch Me installation invites visitors to create visual responses through touch and metamorphoses from one state into another." From my essay 'Re-thinking Touch' at ' Sk-interfaces ' edited by Jens Hauser. (2008) I particularly like this idea as it is a concept that I would like to include in my project.  I would like to use images or patterns in my sculpture that will react to heat or cold.  This will further allow individuals to interact with my piece.  I would my images to be linked to the workings of the spine, i.e. the images of the nerve endings being linked to images of what they allow to function.

Thermochromism

After looking at Do Ho Suh’s work and the use of colour, I was then interested in finding another method of using colour in an interesting fashion in my piece. My research and knowledge told me that it was possible to use materials that change colour when associated with heat.  In the past during a visit to the Tate Modern I seen such a piece.  After many hours on the internet searching Wikipedia  I found what I was looking for, thermochromism!  This is the ability of substance to change colour due to a change in temperature.  Theromochromism is one of several types of chromism and the two basic approaches are based on liquid crystals and leuco-dyes.  Liquid crystals are used in precision applications as their responses can be engineered to accurate temperatures, however the colour range is limited.  Leuco-dye allow a wider range of colours to be used, however their response temperatures are more difficult to set with accuracy.   I would like to use the leuco-dye in relation to my work.

Thermochromic dyes are based on a mixture of leuco-dyes and suitable other chemicals displaying a colour change, dependent on temperature.  The dyes are rarely applied on materials directly but usually in the form of micro-capsules with the mixture sealed inside.

 “Thermochromic paint is relatively recent development in the area of colour-changing pigments.  It involves the use of liquid crystals or leuco dye technology.  After absorbing a certain amount of light or hear, the crystallilc or molecular structure of the pigment reversibly changes in such a way that it absorbs and emits light at a different wavelength than at lower temperatures.” (Wikipedia,2011)

Video

Check out this video if you want further information. This gives a very visual explanation as to how temperatures affect paint.

Timesheet

Pecha Kucha

Sculpture Presentation.

View more presentations from Byrne003

Consultation brings about change!

I began drawing sketches of my ideas, confident of them.  However, after a discussion with Justin, I decided that the implications of movement for Health and Safety were too immense to consider.  I have now decided that my sculpture will remain rigid.   I had also initially began with the notion of making the sculpture out of stainless steel but again after some discussion re: weight and budget, I have decided to only include a small amount of stainless steel and will look into using other resources.