Ongoing research project with Oliver Maklott
TaDA residency 2020
PET, silver
The 3-month Artist in Residency Program TaDA - Textile and Design Alliance connects creative professionals from Switzerland and abroad with textile production in Eastern Switzerland. The selected residents gain insights into production processes, to which they respond with artistic approaches.
In a collaboration with the Materials Research Institute EMPA, silver was applied to fine PET fabrics (Sefar) using a special plasma coating process. This layer is only several nanometers thick and, in addition to its optical effect, gives the textile electrical conductivity. This new property makes it possible to use the textile as a touch-sensitive sensor. In combination with a microprocessor, touch data can be tracked and converted into sound. Recesses in the coated areas serve both visual design and electrical separation. This separation allows to control different aspects of the resulting sound and turning the textile into a haptic tactile interface.
The concept of interference plays an equally important role in this work. By superimposing the textiles, a deliberate optically moirée effect is created, which is meant to represent the visual level of the phenomenon of interference. At the same time, the textile reacts with sound by touch with overlayed audiowaves to emphasise the effect.
Concept & Design: Selina Reiterer and Oliver Maklott
Software & Development: Oliver Maklott
Photography: Ladina Bischof
Supported by the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture Austria and TaDA residency