The Bubble Chamber Film, is an artefact that is a physical photographic recording of a collision between subatomic particles. It was during an early era in the 20th century. Where there was a wave in the technological advancement towards discovering what made us and our surroundings.
The project carries this idea of recording forward to a macroscopic scale. Rigorously investigating the means by which an event can be recorded and documented. Through various physical and metaphysical methods. Be it through film, photography, or within the esoteric rooms of mnemonic architecture. Thus informing the creation of my own hybridized recording device.
THE SPATIAL EXPATIATION OF THE INK WITHIN TIME INTERVALS
The frames illustrate how the form of the ink evolves within the confines of the perspex box. Showing how the ink behaves spatially without any physical obstacles to begin with, before interacting with the boundary of the perspex wall.
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE INK & BOUNDARIES OF THE PERSPEX BOX
This serves as the final element of recording this event. With memory of dropping the balloon physically implanted within the confines of its boundary. This serves as a physical record of how the ink interacted within this space.
RECORDING THE EVENT OF IMPLANTING PHYSICAL MEMORY TO A BLANK OBJECT
Two modes of event recording have been identified and explored. Showing how an event can be interpreted and represented contrasting approaches.
Highlighting how the interpretation of recording an event highlight particular qualities of the same spatial event within a boundary.
ADDING NEW TRACKING DETECTORS TO THE PHYLOGENY
The development of new particle detectors works backwards in the phylogeny, meaning that technologies have become less specialised over time.
My new tracking detector is also part of this phylogeny. Becoming part of the family of Tracking Detectors.
However, with the other chambers working at the atomic scale. My chamber is at the larger Macroscopic scale.
MEMORY IN AN IMAGINARY SYSTEM
AN IMAGINARY SYSTEM WHERE MEMORY IS STORED
During the Renaissance period, there were concerted efforts put forward towards explaining how the human mind functioned with memory. These systems were imaginary buildings/architectures where particular facets of the mind and thought were arranged into particular rooms.
Fludd's memory Theatre came about towards the end of the Renaissance period. Within the field on mnemonic architecture.
A NEW RECORDING SPACE WITH EMBEDDED MEMORY IN ITS SURFACES
Having initially looked at a space with blank memory surfaces, I've now ended with a model representing a hybrid. Derived from Fludd's Theatre, memory is selectively filtered through the boundaries of this event recording space.
FLUDD'S EVENT RECORDING SPACE WITH SELECTIVE BOUNDARIES
Before the event recording surface was a blank pysical object, which had physical memory implanted on it.
Now the recording surface already has the memory of Fludd's Theatre embedded within it.
Consequently the events within this space will be recorded and represented completely differently than before. This becomes a hybrid recording surface with memory of the event also implanted on it.
ADDING NEW MACROSCOPIC TRACKING DETECTORS TO THE PHYLOGENY
The development of new particle detectors works backwards in the phylogeny, meaning that technologies have become less specialised over time. My two newly created tracking chambers are now also part of this phylogeny. Becoming part of the family of Tracking Detectors.
EVENT RECORDING ON A NUCLEAR SCALE
THE C4 ROTATING MIRROR CAMERA
Atomic weapons research accelerated exponentially during WWII, with the U.S. and Britain driven by fear of the Nazis.
A collection of C4's were developed by the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (A.W.R.E.) during the 1950's in order to support the development of Britain’s atomic programme. The design of the C4 was specific to the task of capturing split second explosions.
UNDERSTANDING THE SCALES OF THE EVENT RECORDING DEVICES
The Bubble and Cloud Chambers have grown to be reasonably large structures over time, along with other particle detectors. However, they only look at a small collection of particle interactions. Even on a macrospcopic scale, the same can be said also with the Bubble Drop Chamber. When compared with a nuclear bomb it's like a grain of sand in a beach.
THE IMAGE TAKING QUALITIES OF THE C4 ROTATING MIRROR CAMERA
Most importantly it had to run continuously, In order to satisfy this requirement the film was cut into a loop and remained fixed in a drum around the arc of the camera.
AESTHETIC SIMILARITY BETWEEN DROP TEST & NUCLEAR INTERACTION
I noticed how there was a great similarity between my micro balloon drop test and a nuclear surface bomb explosion. From an initially small and concentrated point, impact causes each element to spread and dissipate over time. Irrespective of the size of investigation and interaction, similarities can still cross over.
A NEW EVENT RECORDING SYSTEM
THE FINAL EVENT RECORDING CHAMBER
Three main logics of event recording needed to be incorporated and combined towards this chamber.
Firstly, is the vantage point when using the memory cells of Fludd's Memory Theatre.
Secondly is the recording the event of an ink-filled balloon exploding in a clear space from all sides.
Thirdly is the physical recording of an event with a clear film.
A REPEATABLE & CONTROLLED BALLOON FILLING/INFLATING/BURSTING SYSTEM
Recognising the need for the new chamber to be more accurate and "scientific".
I aimed to have a frame in the front of the chamber where balloons can be repeatedly filled/inflated/burst.
I wanted to use a syringe like pumping device to fill and inflate the balloon. A long needle within the syringe could also burst the balloon once it's been adequately filled and inflated.
THE EVENT FILTERING SYSTEM OF THE MEMORY CELLS
The interaction of the ink with the memory cells will lead to three results. The ink would get blocked, partially blocked or will have an unimpeded path through a memory cell.
Recording the ink that enters the memory cells will be very important data to somehow obtain.
THE EVENT RECORDING SYSTEM OF THE FILM ROLLS
Once some of the liquid of the balloon entered the memory cells, I wanted for it to get into contact with a clear film. This liquid would have to be black and dry quickly, as I intend on continuously repeating the experiment. Furthermore, I want to have a system where film covers five sides of the chamber. This film will be able to be rolled for each new balloon burst.
THE BOUNDARY SYSTEMS OF THE NEW CHAMBER
The memory cells are an independently active system within the model, working through three orthogonal directions. With the perspex walls working selectively in how they record each the ink splashing events. A boundary filtering the data of each event.
EVENT INSTIGATION & RECORDING
Inflation & Burst
Boundary Filtration - Memory Cells
Film Mechanism
Event Recording
FINAL RECORDING CHAMBER - NAKED APPARATUS
Highlighting the device as a space for event recording. A stage for the controlled balloon popping event, flittered and recorded by the walls of Fludd’s Theatre. Event recording which leads to memory storage, via the cells - formerly bricks of the stage.
FINAL RECORDING CHAMBER - CLOTHED APPARATUS
The outer membrane, wrapping the event recording stage in anticipation for the event. To be carried out repeatedly, accounting for and documenting every eventuality and potential interaction. Embedding the memory of the event on the physical recording artefact. All concentrated within and originating from the ink filled balloon, powered by the pump and triggered by the pin.
FAMILY OF EVENT RECORDING CHAMBERS
