“The heart is the organ that honestly reflects emotions in the human body. What if people's heart rhythms create music based on their interaction with others?”
[Part I.] Eight Individuals: Singles & Couples
[Part II.] Eight Individuals: Audience participation (Opening Event)
Heartmonic (heart+harmonic)
"Heartmonic" (heart + harmonic) is a coined word that means creating harmony with the sound of the heart.
It is an experimental performance that uses the bodies of participants as instruments, turning their heartbeats into an orchestra. Heart rate sensors are attached to each of the eight participants. Each individual's heart data is assigned to the sound of a different instrument (cello, piano, violin, marimba, percussion, flute, clarinet, or bassoon).
The artist acts as a conductor, guiding the participants in both physical and emotional activities designed to provoke their feelings. These activities include choreographed dance movements, holding hands, hugging, tickling, and kissing.
The speed of the participants' heart rate corresponds to the tempo of their assigned instrument sounds. Resting heart rate will be associated with a slower tempo, and elevated heart rate corresponds to more dynamic sounds. As a result, their heartbeats produce an improvised orchestra, giving feedback to the participants about their state of body and mind.
Participants (Part I): Carlos Terán, Cecilia Zhang, Jerllin Cheng, Joseph Weiss, Linnéa Mellander, Magdalena Kovarik, Pablo Gnecco, Sofy Yuditskaya Participants (Part III): Frank Clifford, Francisco E Ramirez, Izabel Paez, Kouryou Ngin, Michelle Huang, Olya Mikhaliova, Sonia Li, Whitney Falk
Thanks to Amar Lal, Aaron Sherwood, Jenna Rothstein, Jesse Chorng, Jimmy Chorng, Sam Tarakajian, Alonso Guzman, Carlye Eckert, Daniel Ching, Jeremy Pheiffer, Katie Gaydos, Kayla Farrish, Marielis Garcia, Xavier Townsend
Year: 2016
Medium: Custom-built iOS App "Heartmonic", MaxforLive, Ableton Live, 8 iPads, 8 iPad stands, 8 Polar H7 heart rate sensor, 1 Laptop, 1 audio cable, 1 MIDI controller
Original music by Antfood
Heartrate iOS App developed by Jihyun Lee
Photos by Samantha Nandez (BFA.com)