PHILADELPHIA - (July 14, 2014) - Fronting Motion, an internet-based artwork by PolakVanBekkum, will be on display at the University City Science Center’s Esther Klein Gallery July 18 – August 16, 2014. The gallery, which is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday, is located at 3600 Market Street in Philadelphia. An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, July 24 from 6 - 9 p.m.
Fronting Motion presents real-time visualization of cars driving in the UK, contrasted with live data of ships passing through the Southampton, England harbor. The two realities merge into a panorama of a contemporary landscape. In the west, cars are coming right at you at full speed. In the east, you overlook the slow arrival and departure of ships in the harbor. In addition to the visual animation, this data also generates sound clips which produce a constant noise.
Artists Esther Polak and Ivar Van Bekkum (PolakVanBekkum), from the Netherlands, are in Philadelphia through the fall of 2014 for Art Along the Avenue of Technology (AAAT), a dynamic public art program based at the Science Center. AAAT aims to explore the intersection of art, science, and technology on Market Street, with the goal of enlivening the Science Center’s campus and engaging the surrounding communities.
PolakVanBekkum is creating 250 Miles Crossing Philadelphia, a documentary in Google Earth. By attaching GPS and audio recording devices to various protagonists to track sound and movement, they will demonstrate the connections between Philadelphia’s many inhabitants, both human and not. AAAT is a collaboration between the Science Center, Wexford Science & Technology and the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority’s Percent for Art Program.
For more information about Fronting Motion and 250 Miles Crossing Philadelphia visit: http://www.frontingmotioneast.net, http://www.frontingmotionwest.net and http://www.250miles.net
About the Science Center
The University City Science Center is a dynamic hub for innovation, and entrepreneurship and technology development in the Greater Philadelphia region. It provides business incubation, programming, lab and office facilities, and support services for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and growing and established companies. The Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Since it was founded in 1963, graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s Port business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually. For more information about the Science Center, go to http://www.sciencecenter.org.
About Fronting Motion
The live ANPR data for Fronting Motion was provided by Dorset County Council, Siemens and the University of Southampton. The AIS data was provided by marinetraffic.com. Additional funding was provided by Stokroos Fund Netherlands. Additonal collaborators for this project include: Helen Sloan (Director of SCAN), Dr. Tom Cherrett (University of Southampton), Dr. Chris Speed (University of Edinburgh), Peter Robinett (coding), Arjan Scherpenisse (coding), Arno Peeters (sound) and Mart van Bree (distribution).
