ACTinG for U

“ACTinG for U” is a modular emergent visualization of real and artificial biological data displayed through an animated, multi-screen data visualization of proteins in the human genome and a robotic water system – behaving as an organism – that responds to its internal and external sensory cues. The genome animation and organism-system influence each other in direct and indirect ways, expressing the impact of interconnections that exist between the senses, inter-”personal” exchanges, and even the larger social, worldly environment.

The organism-system is in the form of a clear water tank. Based on various sensory inputs – including reaction to the social environment, internal biological needs, and unpredictable spontaneity – the system dispenses corresponding liquid dyes into its tank, developing a color-based expression of its lived experience and reflecting the interlinking effects of these various inputs. Further, the organism-system communicates its sensory responses with its neighboring system – the genome system of the data animation – impacting the human genome sequences directly and thus manipulating the animation as the systems’ data becomes enmeshed. While data rewrites from organism-system to genome system, electrical interference from the genome system’s computers influences the water system’s sensory readings.

The genome animation visually displays protein gene sequences nucleotide-by-nucleotide, showcasing the length of the sequence and the patterning of the sequence’s nucleotides in colored, interlocking graphics. As the two systems run, the original genome sequences are slowly overwritten by the organism-system’s sensory data, bringing the two into a closely connected existence where even the smallest response has a significant impact on another and itself.

ACTinG for U is generously funded by the Russell Foundation and will be exhibited June 10th-12th, 2025.