ACTinG for U

a.jett (n.kat)

“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 displays each protein gene sequences in a grid, showcasing the color of the sequence based on ratios of colors mapped to each nucleotide. 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.