Star Dust

Qian Xu

Stardust is an interactive video installation inspired by the mining culture in the city of Trbovlje.For almost a century since the construction of the power plant in 1915, the miners and power plant workers of Trbovlje have been working hard to provide Slovenia with electricity. Mining and power generation became the backbone of the local economy and also a proud cultural symbol for the citizens. With the shut-down of the power plant in 2015, the city has opened a new chapter in its innovative transformation. Using coal dust and stardust as metaphors, this work links the coal dust, which represents the history and culture of Trbovlje, with the stardust, which represents the innovation and future of the city. A swarm system algorithm is designed to give these dust particles an organic rhythm. Visitors interact with the coal dust in the installation using their body movements. Multiple visual effects are triggered by different body postures and will appear on the projected screen, turning these coal dust into beautiful stardust.

This project is supported by the RUK network and DDT.

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