magnified
Microscopic Exploration of Our Ordinary World
This project is a manifestation of my desire to inspire scientific curiosity through visual communication and tactile experience. Uncover the hidden beauty and genius of mundane things through magnified storytelling.
Exhibit Process >
How I created this experience
Magnified Exhibition Catalog >
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My first idea was to create an experience where the viewer would be enveloped by the magnified image generated by a science lab microscope. (Above: photoshop mockup of this idea)
I created a scale model with iridescent vinyl, a material I used in Magnified Exhibition Catalog. I then projected microscopic imagery onto the model.
I also brought a magnifying glass from the Magnified Exhibition Catalog to play with.
Happy accidents of light, refraction, and reflection delighted us all.
I purchased 2 handheld microscopes to create an interactive experience.
One microscope can be attached to your phone for picture-taking and video-recording. The other microscope can be connected to your computer through a USB cord. The USB microscope would later prove to be the better one for projecting.
I found that looking at things around my apartment was very interesting. I realized that a few microscope slides would not create the excitement of seeing an ordinary item turn into a magnified surprise. I needed space for multiple ordinary things.
I wanted to show a mundane item first so you can be surprised by its magnified image.
After some trial, I realized that it was awkward to look up and down from the table with objects to the projected image on the wall.
Solution? Let’s project right on to the table!
I created one empty slot with this prompt so everyone can be a life-long learner.
The most important message was to keep exploring and questioning.
I had many successful demonstrations and numerous people coming back to play with the exhibit.
It was finally ready to be filmed.
So I sketched some storyboards to make sure we captured what I wanted to show. I set up the exhibit one more time, mapped the projections with MadMapper, and we got rolling.
Very special thanks to Ivan Cruz, Miles Mazzie, Ivan Rybkin, Randall DeLeon, Priscilla Chong, Alison Hochi, Alicia Zheng, and Stephen Serrato.