Germination Kunstinstallatie by Atsushi Kobayashi

Germination Kunstinstallatie by Atsushi Kobayashi is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award in Brons in Beeldende Kunst en Kunstinstallatie Ontwerp Competition Category.

BronsBeeldende Kunst· 2023

Germination Kunstinstallatie

by Atsushi Kobayashi

Client: TV Asahi Corporation

A' Design Award in Brons Winner in Beeldende Kunst Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Germination Kunstinstallatie

Germination is een meeslepende kunstinstallatie die een industriële robotarm, verlichting en planten combineert. De robotarm is gechoreografeerd als een kiem die na een periode van rust uit de grond ontkiemt. LED-strips vormen de wortels en zorgen voor licht dat als voeding overkomt. Aan de bovenkant van de arm is een lichtbol bevestigd die wordt bestuurd alsof hij tot leven komt. Projection mapping wordt toegepast op het podium, dat is samengesteld uit artefacten en natuurlijke elementen. De drie minuten durende show eindigt wanneer zonnestralen door de wolken breken en de kiem tot bloei komt.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Brons

Germination Kunstinstallatie is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Brons, een hoogst prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan uitstekende ontwerpen die zich onderscheiden door creativiteit, vindingrijkheid en scherpzinnigheid. Winnaars in Brons zijn ruimschoots vaardige en opvallend creatieve artefacten die de grote ervaring, verbeelding en het vernuft van hun ontwerpers bevestigen. Germination Kunstinstallatie wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerd, bewonderd en gekoesterd object te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Brons heeft gewonnen, verwerkt de beste praktijken in kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie en is uitstekend door zijn aandacht voor detail. Germination Kunstinstallatie bevredigt schitterend behoeften, raakt verlangens, charmeert gevoelens en spreekt de nieuwsgierigheid aan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Germination is an immersive installation which features an industrial robot arm and lighting and plants.
A robot arm is choreographed as a sprout which germinates from the ground after a period of dormancy.
At the beginning of the show, it absorbs nourishment from its LED roots and gradually starts to germinate. And after raining and thundering, it sways in the wind. Rays of sunlight shines from clouds and eventually it will bloom.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 3m x Depth 3m x Height 2m
Tags: robot, installation, art, immersive, contemporary, projectionmapping, led, TouchDesigner
Production Technology: Many processes were taken to realize this installation.
To send a command to control an industrial robot arm remotely, a communication system was developed. The robot arm’s maximum payload was 10kg but moment had to be taken care of.
And an attachment equipment was needed specifically for this robot arm. Wing Robotics, a startup company helped the project to solve these problems and eventually a show control system was developed that everyone can easily use.
Design Challenge: We took many processes to realize our installation.
To send a command to control an industrial robot arm remotely, we developed a communication system. Maximum payload was 10kg but we had to take care of moment.
And we designed attachment equipment specifically for this robot arm. We collaborated with a startup company to solve these problems and eventually developed a show control system that everyone can easily use.
Research: Software
TouchDesigner, Blender, Fanuc ROBOGUIDE

Hardware
Fanuc CRX-10iA/L, Windows PC

Support received from
Wing Robotics
Fanuc
Inspiration: This installation was created with a wish that it is going back to a normal and peaceful world soon and people germinate from constraint and eventually bloom again.
Project Duration: The project started in April 2021 in Tokyo, and was exhibited in Go Tech, Tokyo in March 2022.
Operation Flow: The show was run by a control system which has a straight forward UI. It can start a robot arm, sound, LED lighting simultaneously. Also it is possible to simulate how everything works on a preview window. The show is 3 minutes long but it can be operated by one person to click a button to start it.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Atsushi Kobayashi
Image Credits: Creative Director, Creative Technologist : Atsushi Kobayashi (tv asahi)
Robotics Engineering : Liping Feng, Liang Lin(Wing Robotics)
Flower artist : Akiko Suzuki (Mitsurin Tokyo)
Sound design : Atsushi Kobayashi (tv asahi)