HEART TUBEVitar Drinković (HR)

Interactive installation, 2019

HEART TUBE is an interactive installation which transmits the heartbeats of four individuals simultaneously into artistic space in real time. This sculpture is an exploration of human communication and interconnectedness based on a simple biological process, focusing on the heart as an organ that is extremely susceptible both to outside stimuli and inner processes (thoughts, emotions, etc.). The heart functioning makes all the physiological and psychological changes momentarily, directly and subconsciously visible via deviations of rhythm. These deviations are emphasized and made visible through transformations of the sounds of the heart and its rhythm into light and intense tactile vibrations. The intensity and rhythm of light and sound again affect the heart functioning of the people connected to the sculpture, which creates a “communication loop” and a sort of interconnectedness in the cybernetic sense. By experimenting with the interface between technology and the biological, the work examines the possibilities of creating new and different ways of communication and perception – based on direct and uncontrolled biological processes.

In technical terms, the work consists of 4 DIY electronic stethoscopes. Each stethoscope is connected to a separate preamplifier, mixing console, amplifier, low-frequency speaker, power source and Arduino microcontroller that transforms sound into light impulses of different intensity. All the devices are embedded into the structure of the sculpture while the speakers are lined up vertically and activated independently of each other by pressing a button. This creates a specific dynamics of movement within the sculpture, visible through the structure made of transparent plexiglass. The rhythms of the four human hearts activate LED lamps placed underneath each speaker, converging into one dynamic rhythm loudly resonating throughout the exhibition space. The people participating in the sculpture are turned to face each other and, thanks to the power of the low-frequency speakers, they also experience the collective heartbeats as intense vibrations in their bodies.

Co-production: KONTEJNER
Technical associate: Igor Brkić

The production of the artwork is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia.

Vitar Drinković (HR)

Vitar Drinković works at the intersection of technology, science and art, through the creation of interactive devices, inventions and installations that serve as intermediaries in communication between people. His intention is to explore and create a new context and conditions for the sensory and mental perception of daily life. He combines his extensive experience in sculpture and sculptural technologies with new media, DIY culture, new technologies and collaborations with experts in the fields of science, which opens up a wide spectrum of activity.

He graduated in Sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb in 2008. During his studies, he attended a semester at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA. In 2014, he completed his Master’s degree in Animation and New Media at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, where he also participated in a student exchange with the London Metropolitan University, UK. He has exhibited in 24 solo exhibitions, created 7 public space sculptures (Zagreb, Dugo Selo, Bjelovar and Hvar in Croatia, and Trausdorf in Austria), and has participated in 14 artistic residencies. He exhibited at 55 group exhibitions in Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Austria, the Czech Republic, United Kingdom, USA, Canada and France. He is the recipient of several awards, honors and scholarships, and a 2021 Radoslav Putar Award finalist. He is a member of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists and the Croatian Freelance Artists’ Association.

vitardrinkovic.com
vitardrinkovic@gmail.com