Atmospheric Memory at Powerhouse Museum
Atmospheric Memory at the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, curated by José Luis de Vicente is a series of works inspired by 19th century computer pioneer & philosopher Charles Babbage who believed the air surrounding us is a vast library with every sound, motion and word spoken.
I had the privilege of attending the media preview of Atmospheric Memory and walked through the exhibition with Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and José Luis de Vicente. A week later, I brought Miss and her brother back for them to experience this great exhibition.
Rafael Lozano-Hemmer at Atmospheric Memory - credit: Busy City Kids
This sensory exhibition shows visitors many objects from the 19th century some of them from the Powerhouse Museum collection. It also shows new technology which transforms vibrations in the atmosphere into something visitors can see, hear and even touch.
Visitors are welcomed by a beautiful backdrop of the Blue Mountains when entering the exhibition which loops and recreates using Artificial Intelligence (AI) using old photos.
Atmospheric Memory Powerhouse Museum - credit: Busy City Kids
The first room features a few historical objects setting the exhibition such as Babbe 'Difference Engine No 1' Calculating Engine and letters between Babbage and Mathematician Ada Lovelace. Due to staggered sessions every 10 minutes, visitors are asked to wait in the room for around 5 minutes until the next area is open for exploration.
Atmospheric Memory Powerhouse Museum - credit: Busy City Kids
The next room will explain the exhibition to visitors and invite them to chat to the Babbage AI machines in booths which will be used and shown back at another point the exhibition.
Visitors can then walk through an array of over 3,000 different sound channels that start when you walk or talk and play recordings of 200 species of insects and 300 birds.
Then you can walk through a couple of rooms demonstrating technology of sound through patients’ mouths, nano technology aspects as well as some pieces from the Powerhouse Museum collection and devices measuring air quality and sound. An interesting piece is the last breath of Pauline Oliveros, who passed in 2016, exhaled into a device that allows to circulate her breath between a motorised bellow and a brown paper bag!
The kids really liked the Chamber as they could experiment with everything and talk to the many setups. Mister wasn’t tall enough for the intercoms but we helped him up.
Atmospheric Memory Powerhouse Museum - credit: Busy City Kids
We had a bit of fun on the Cloud Display writing the name of our blog. Visitors can speak in the intercom and their words will be displayed on the mist wall.
Atmospheric Memory Powerhouse Museum - credit: Busy City Kids
We went through the 12 stages of the Chamber and liked the waterfall. The kids found the music at the end a little bit too much by that stage and retreated to relax in the drawing room reflecting on our planet.
Kids will enjoy the many interactive aspects of this exhibition and the play with sounds and other elements. The show has great accessibility, quiet sessions are available for sensory sensitive audiences. Visitors can only touch aspects of the exhibition that has a microphone to interact with. Visitors are welcome to walk around, sit down or lie down to experience the full 40 minute rotation in the Chamber. You can stay as long as you want in the exhibition.
Atmospheric Memory Powerhouse Museum - credit: Busy City Kids
The artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer invites visitors to contribute to the space, he defined his art as out of control and incomplete. Teens and adults with an interest in science & tech will love this exhibition in all parts.
Visitors will love the Waterfall feature of the Cloud Display in the chamber. The water is pure and safe to walk and play with.
Atmospheric Memory Powerhouse Museum - credit: Busy City Kids
Kids are invited at the end of the exhibition to create call-to-actions to remind adults not to take our atmosphere for granted.
Atmospheric Memory at the Powerhouse Museum is on everyday until 5th November 2023.
Atmospheric Memory is suitable for all ages but recommended for kids 8 years +. Parts of the experience can be a bit loud and at times affect sensory sensitive children and adults.
Kids will enjoy the interactive aspects of this exhibition, the AI talking booth Banderoles and other interactive parts like Atmosphonia which features 3,000 loudspeakers each of which plays a different sound channel when visitors walk through. You can hear wind, then water, fire, ice, over 200 types of insects, over 300 types of birds, bells etc.
The family will definitely enjoy Cloud Display which writes any spoken words using pure water vapour and also generates a cascade wall. Voice Tank, Weather Vanes will also allow kids to see how their voice or songs generate ripples in water or moves arrows. One thing for sure, the sequences featured on the wall of the Chamber will definitely make the kids interact with shadows, vapour waves, text streams, face recognition and more!