Experiencing the non-sensuous

摘要

In this paper we discuss the conflict between a scientific and an artistic approach to interface design in an urban experience-oriented installation, we designed for the Hopenhagen LIVE activities in Copenhagen during the COP 15 climate summit meeting in December 2009. The installation called "Atmosphere - the sound and sight of CO2" converted data from CO2 measurements to sound and visuals presented through headphones and on a 2-meter high, quadrant sculpture that functioned as a transparent, low resolution LED screen. Hereby a normally non-sensuous phenomenon became visible and audible giving the public sensuous access to the symbolic villain of climate change: Carbon dioxide. What the sound and visuals actually represented and how it was conceived is a rather complex question that is fundamental to the artistic concept and of epistemological concern for this paper.