A GALAXY OF SUNS
Michaela Gleave with Amanda Cole and Warren Armstrong
2016-2018
Computer generated live video feed, stereo sound
ODROID single-board computer, custom computer program, GPS
1920 x 1080p Duration: infinite
A GALAXY OF SUNS is a multi-faceted, multi-platform data sonification project that ‘plays’ the stars as they rise and set over 360 ̊ of the horizon - for any location on Earth. Tracking the Earth’s motions through space, A GALAXY OF SUNS documents in real-time the audience’s precise position in relation to the stars, sonifying stellar data to create a sound and visual composition unique to their exact location in space and time.
GALAXY OF SUNS treats the Earth is treated as a giant, spinning music box with individual stars triggering sounds and visuals as they cross over the horizon. The project works with parameters such as location on the horizon, distance from Earth, star luminosity and chemical classification, and translates them into sonic and aesthetic variables including pitch, volume, duration, timbre, colour and light intensity.
A GALAXY OF SUNS operates using data from the Hipparchos astronomical catalogue, a high-precision data set collected by the European Space Agency’s Hipparchos satellite. It contains detailed information about over 118 000 stars. Only around 5000 of these stars are visible with the naked human eye, all existing within the Milky Way. A GALAXY OF SUNS illuminates these cosmological objects, connecting audiences with these otherwise invisible motions of the galaxy.
Custom astronomical coding enables A GALAXY OF SUNS to calculate accurately to 1,000th of a second the exact time and location of star rises and sets for 360 degrees of the horizon - anywhere on the surface of the planet. The rhythms of the composition are driven purely by the timing of the stars as they rise or set over the horizon. Pitch is mapped to each star’s colour ID, a numerical value that indicates the real-life colour of the star and communicates its size, age and chemical composition. Panning is accurate to the star’s location on the horizon, and volume dictated by the star’s distance from Earth. The visuals closely map these parameters, ‘starbursts’ appearing accurate to their location on the horizon and rising or falling accordingly. The colours are based on the chemical composition and temperature of each star, with rapidly burning hot blue stars mapped to higher pitches and cooler old red stars mapped to the bass notes. Flashing briefly before fading to midnight, these bursts provide a glimpse into each of these Suns - each a potential home to its very own solar system with a unique life story and relationship to the history of the universe.
A GALAXY OF SUNS exists in numerous forms, including a live choral performance, smartphone app, and print series. This version of the project is a limited edition live video feed, optimised for screen and projection.
Project Credits
Lead artist: Michaela Gleave Composer: Amanda Cole
Curatorial Liaison: Elise Routledge
Graphic Design: Alter
Courtesy the artist and Anna Pappas Gallery
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
A GALAXY OF SUNS is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.