Hot Air / Breath Bank

Two players/performers inflate the shared balloon within the box.

DATE

2017

CONTEXT

Created as an independed project.

MEDIUM

balloon, breath and/or air

PEOPLE

Kristin McWharter  :  Artist and Designer

In Hot Air / Breath Bank, two players/performers use two nozzle-like inputs that are mounted on either sides of an acrylic box to inflate the shared balloon within. Microphones amplify the sound of each breath’s contribution and flow sensors calculate which player has contributed the most to the shared whole. As one player contributes more air than the other, the audio from the microphones is “pushed,” panning between the left and right speakers. Once a player begins to win, they are emboldened by the sound of their own breathing. The two players continue to compete until the balloon pops.

Hot Air was performed at the 2017 Game Art Festival; Breath Bank is the next iteration of the project.