SPANG&LEI

Sensing Goodman is a unique sound installation that merges environmental sensors with found objects, offering a fresh perspective on the relationship between personal exposure to environmental pollution and official data from weather stations. It emerged from a curiosity about the disparity between these sources of information: how accurately do conventional environmental data reflect the realities of everyday living conditions?

The installation prompts thought-provoking questions: Can individual citizens' small data sets provide valuable insights into the state of a place? With the recent implementation of mandatory temperature scanning in public spaces, does a single temperature reading truly represent the condition of a location, or merely that of an individual body? Furthermore, does a collective of "safe bodies" equate to a "safe place," especially in the context of a pandemic? Where does the distinction lie between biological and environmental data, and between the boundaries of the body and the environment.

Through the sonification of environmental data sets, triggered by the simple act of temperature scanning, Sensing Goodman encourages audience participation in contemplating the intertwined concepts of a "good place" and a "good body." It invites individuals to explore the subtle nuances between these intertwined elements, sparking conversations about the complex relationship between personal well-being and environmental quality.

Commissioned by The Observatory under PlayFreely Festival 2021.