Art imitates Life
One of the most beautiful examples of the Internet of Things in action
is a work of art callled Die Mimik der Tethys (The Expressions of Tethys)
by a German artist named Julius von Bismarck
What you see in the gallery is a buoy gracefully moving up and down and from side to side in empty space in an apparently random motion. But the motion is not random at all: the buoy in the gallery is connected to a buoy in the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes, France. It continuously transmits motion sensor data to the buoy in the gallery, which mimics the buoy's movement. Von Bismarck says it is "creating an ocean in the minds of people. You feel the whim of the wild water that can potentially hold your life in your hands. Buoys represent our human existence without our actual presence. They send information from distant places. The ocean, in turn, shows us its potential threat from tidal waves and rising sea levels. Refugees die in the sea.”
You can watch a video showcasing the kinetic installation "Die Mimik der Tethys" (The Expressions of Tethys) by German artist Julius von Bismarck on YouTube.
About the Artwork
The Concept: Named after the Greek sea goddess Tethys, the artwork is a kinetic sculpture featuring a real ocean buoy suspended indoors.
How It Works: Sensors on a buoy anchored in the Atlantic Ocean transmit real-time movement data via satellite to electric motors and cable winches attached to the suspended gallery buoy, mimicking the ocean waves live.
Where to See It: The installation has been featured at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Berlin's Berghain/Studio Berlin, the Pinacoteca Agnelli in Turin, and as a permanent display at the Sprengel Museum in Hannover, Germany.
