FAST OR SLOW

Public art, 2011
Material: ALUMITE finished aluminum plates, LED light panels, infrared sensors, aluminum wall-hanging system, etc.
Dimension: West side 23.8 x 2.35 m, East side 19.2 x 2.35 m
Location: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Station
Project description: This is an interactive artwork that consists of the sensor operated LED light panels and ALUMITE finished aluminum plates with water and tree pattern. Koichiro Miura won the international competition held in 2008 and received a commission to install public art at the passageway connecting two subway stations in Taipei.

1. Background
Today, the relationship between human and the society is becoming more tense and unstable than before. I observed people sustain their life going back and forth between the changing social structure and laid-back life style. The struggle between the two realities used to be a matter for people with relatively high social status. Now, common people have to deal with it in order to maintain their humble life. For instance, factory workers in US auto industries during sixties did not have to consider about the changes of social environment. They focused on what they are assigned in the factory until retirement and they could have a decent life. Then, Japanese carmakers increased presence and changed the market as well as their life in eighties. Such changes have been taking place around the world with much shorter periods these days resulting many of us experience multiple occupations and continuous training. The original idea is to express the social environment as described using the sensor connected LED panels operated by passers-by themselves.

2. Lighting patterns
2.1. General idea: The light represents the activities of people. When a passer-by walks along the wall on either side, the LED panels near him turns on and off, which represents his social participation. The sensor responds to him when he walks on the proper area (about 1.2 meters away from the wall) with proper speed (about 1.2 meters per second) which also represent the relationship between people and the social system (rules).
2.2. Fast side (tree, vertical slits)
The fast side represents the social systems that require people to provide appropriate responses in a short time such as global corporations and governments. The sensor operates the LED panels located 1.2 meters away so that the passer-by sees the panels in front of him turns on, which intend to arouse emotion of chasing the light (task, duty, achievement). When he walks in the opposite direction, the panels behind him turn on to arouse the emotion of being chased by the light. The LED light turns off in about two seconds indicating the frequent changes of the social system.
2.3. Slow side (water, horizontal slits)
The slow side represents the social systems that are relatively constant during human history and related to the human body such as agriculture, fisheries, food service, health industry and so forth. The sensor operates the LED panels located directly under unit so that the passer-by sees the panels next to his turns on, which intend to arouse emotion of walking with the light. There is no significant difference if he walks in the opposite direction. The LED turns off in about five seconds indicating that some part of the social system is long-lasting.

3. Graphic images
3.1. Tree image and vertical slits
The tree image that consists of overlaid multiple branches expresses the characteristics of the social systems as described above. The image of the numerous small branches coming from a trunk shows the downward and one-way communication style of large-scale institutions. The once separated branches of a tree will never meet again, which represents the competitive aspects of the society such as entrance exams, professional qualifications or promotions. The slits on the aluminum panel covering the LED panel are vertically arranged. Verticality symbolizes the stiffness of the society and the isolation of each worker.
3.2. Water image and horizontal slits
The water image as ripples expresses the constant, loose and relaxed aspects of the social systems. The water is the essential part of the life. But, it is very difficult to totally understand the movement of the water even by a sophisticated hydrodynamic, which indicates that human beings can not control everything such as climate change or life itself. No mater how sophisticated our agriculture skill becomes, it ultimately depends on the sun and the rain, for instance. The horizontal slit symbolizes the symbiosis and collaboration.