Pneuma

2020-2024

Youyang Hu, Chiaochi Chou

The hybridized bio-installation Pneuma seeks to keep itself facing the sunlight through its internal signal-exchange system, channeling the converted energy into its immediate surroundings, as plants do in the natural world.

In this installation, each leaf serves as a light-sensing unit clustered around a central tree. The canopy is divided into zones, and when light hits the leaves, the system collects photosynthetic signals to determine the light source's direction. Plants use a fraction of the bio-energy from photosynthesis, transmitting most to the soil, where microorganisms generate ionized electrons that can be harnessed as bio-electric energy. The tree responds to light by releasing energy as water waves, influencing its surrounding ecology.