“Air – Motion – Sound” is an installation developed by CCEA with the support of artist Michael Kindernay. It consists of a live performance targeted at showcasing the potentials of ICT for public space activation and awareness rising.
It was conceived for the I.P. Pavlova Square, one of the most polluted areas of Prague.
This very central space, between the National Museum and the Nuselským Bridge, is crossed every day by over 104,200 pedestrians and 81,600 cars*. Although there are more pedestrians than cars, the space is almost completely dedicated to car traffic, thus making it one of the most polluted areas of Prague.
The installation “Air – Motion – Sound” aims to inform the public about people mobility, air pollution, and noise occurring in one of the most crowded places in Prague and to generate a public debate around the role of ICT in making this area a more sustainable place.
Several elements are part of the installation:
DATA CAPTURE AND VISUALIZATION
Canaries, DIY measuring devices, were installed around I. P. Pavlova, on the ground floor level. Data captured showed that particles matter values are above 300 mg/m³, which exceeds acceptable values stated by the World Health Organization.
During the live performance, white lines were drawn on asphalt, in the I. P. Pavlova Square pedestrian areas, visualising data captured.
AWARENESS RISING FASHION SHOW
Every 30 minutes a fashion show was organised, having 11 models walking through the cross paths in I. P. Pavlova square.
Their white dresses, designed by dress designer Jitka Pospisilova, were previously exposed to air pollution in the same square, hanging them on the facade of a residential building for 2 weeks: their grey traces were a simple and very communicative system to visualise the amount of Particle Metter polluting the area.
Each fashion show was accompanied by a special soundtrack: the artist Michal Kindernay created a sound map of the city’s driving paths, converting the sound registered on the Sokolská and Legerova road in electronic music, in order to raise awareness on the unbearable noise of a traffic junction in the middle of the city.
INFO POINTS AND OPINIONS COLLECTION
Two info points have been organised in I. P. Pavlova square during the event: three people part of the Active Public Space project were explaining the contents of the event and asking people their opinions.
They were distributing postcards illustrating the history of the square, the actual use of it and the process that lead to the organisation of the “Air – Motion – Sound” performance occurring in the square.
In detail, the postcards were showing ancient drawings of the original project of the square, almost only for pedestrian use, the actual status and the white dresses used for the fashion show hanging on a building on the square. Moreover, Movement Illustrator Zuzana Bramborová created images visualising the square’s use.
At the info point, citizens were asked to live their opinion on how to activate the square space leaving a post-it on a cardo-board panel.
DIALOGUE WITH CITIZENS
A picnic area where citizens were invited to discuss about the square use was set-up in the green area of I. P. Pavlova square.
It included blankets with food, where people could rest and talk, accompanied by a harp performance of musician Kate?ina Zochová.
Moreover, pedestrians had the chance to immerse themselves in the silence that the square has the potential for, using special headphones transforming the noise of busy cars into relaxing music.
“Air – Motion – Sound” gave citizens the possibility to discuss with the citizens of Prague, who are passing through the area every day, the possibilities of improving the I.P. Pavlova Square and its transformation away from a busy intersection. The performance lasted 6 hours and more than 20.000 citizens crossing the area were involved.
* The data is based on the measurements made by the TSK in April 2013 within the 14-day measurement between 6:00am-10: 00 pm.
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