ANTHROPODLOGY x Natural History Museum.
A project that focuses on the difficulties of understanding scientific knowledge in the Natural History Museum
and its data portal.
「Anthropodlogy」 presented the identity of Natural History Museum combining both the lesser publicised research that happens there with the interactivity and experience of a museum.
Our team framed scientific research and data through the lenses of insects for people, enables viewers to see the world from a different perspective.
An online insect tour guide with interactive tours of exhibits from the vision and logical perspective of insects.
A music launchpad which makes use of user contributed recordings of insect sounds on bio-acoustica to customise music is designed, aiming to introduce new uses for these research materials beyond scientific work.
< Project Website: ANTHROPODLOGY >
< Music Launchpad: https://yijunnx.github.io/insecttap/ >
Project manager: Francine Chan & Yijun Xiong
Programmer: Yijun Xiong & Francine Chan
Music Designer: Chiaki Sakai
Visual Supervisor: Jamilya Kulambayeva & Chiaki Sakai
Insect Guide
“ Life of an insect living in the museum. ”
< Click the Tour Location to Access the Virtual Tour >
Enjoy viewing the museum as an insect would with their vision and perception of the space.
INSECT TOUR - SPIDER
Corner of The Arch
Until 31 Mar 2019
"Why are so many humans climbing up to look at this large skeleton?"
"Does it give them powers?
Is it a web?
Does it trap pray? "
INSECT TOUR - HONEY BEE
Darwin Centre
Until 15 Apr 2019
" THE RUMORED HIVE.
HIVE. HIVE.
NEED TO FIND HIVE.
TRAP GOING UP. HIVE. "
INSECT TOUR - NOIR ANT
The Mammal Room
Open on 30 Apr 2019
"The exhibit light burning bright enough to blind any other ant, but not me. "
“ Find Your Insect Tour Guide in the NHM ”
< Every week with a different insect tour guide, Book your tour now >
Insect Tap
“ Your Insect DJ. ”
< Click the Button to Access the Interactive Music Launchpad >
< Move your mouse as Instrument, Create your own music >
Project Process
Insect Dairies - Filmmaking
(GoPro, FishEye Lens)
We used these lenses to think about reframing the world from the perception of an insect.
With insect vision guiding us to see what problems they might encounter.
>>>> Click For More Dairies
Insect Vision Filters - Coding
(Processing)
I did some research on the vision of insects to understand how they view the world.
This research was then coded into filters accordingly.
Music Launchpad - Coding
(HTML, p5.js)
Perceive information
This project also explored how people perceived information through the museum and translated that form of interaction to redesign the presentation of data online.
The aim of this exploration - remove preconceived ideas of information through the act of specifically locating things.
Sound Perception - Prototype
An application that locates insects through a mix of sounds that are individually amplified when moved closer to the source.
< ! Sound On ! >
This allows the exploration of insects without having a specific “goal” in mind.