Magnetic fluid art
Magnetic fluid is a black liquid that is made by dissolving ferro-magnetic micro-powder in a solvent such as oil or water. The powder retains its magnetic properties even in its liquid state, which allows for the creation of complex, organic shapes that cannot be rendered with regular magnetic sand.
Inspired by the transformational nature of this material, Tokyo-based artists Sachiko Kodama and Minako Takeno developed an interactive installation entitled Protrude, Flow, in which magnetic fluid responds to the volume of viewers’ voices by adopting 3D forms. The image of this dynamic exchange is projected on a gigantic screen, where the magnetic fluid resembles steep mountains, pliable organic shapes, and flowing particle streams.
Kodama and Takeno have devised several other works such as “Pulsate,” “Equilibrium Point,” and “Waves and Sea Urchins,” all of which change dynamically based on the qualities of ambient noise, light, and temperature in their environments.
Contact: Sachiko Kodama, Tokyo, Japan.
For more information, see Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine our Physical Environment
