Bog Music

SuperDaftBros

Charlotte, North Carolina

Soundscape: Leo Wolf

Under the gleam of Olbrich’s Royal Thai Pavilion, a musical bog garden emerges. Inspired by the exotic adaptations of carnivorous plants, “Bog Music” contemplates the shared experience of thriving in hostile environments, drawing resources and meaning from unlikely origins. Clusters of larger-than-life pitcher plants use light to lure visitors into tapping on their lids – responding with a chorus of sounds and waves of light, chattering among themselves about the gathering and sharing of their bounty.

Pro Tip

While each Flavoid is excited to meet you, they respond better to gentler taps. If you’re too aggressive they might go dormant!

Inside the Installation

Materials: Addressable LEDs, speakers, aluminum frames, 3D printed shells, automotive enamel, treated wood bases

  1. The green Flavoid pitcher plants are inspired by the Sarracenia Flava, which can be natively found along the coast of the artists’ home state of North Carolina. The purple Purpoid pitcher plants are inspired by the Sarracenia Purpurea that are found growing natively in Wisconsin.
     
  2. The mini-Flavoids are still growing and don’t yet have the capability to detect boops on their own, but they respond to the conversations of the larger Flavoid clusters.
     
  3. Like real pitcher plants, each Flavoid cluster operates digitally as a collective - each pitcher has a custom printed circuit board with an accelerometer to sense motion. Taps are recorded and transmitted to one “brain” in the base, which communicates with the rest of the bog.
     
  4. Despite each Flavoid having a unique note, look, and personality, they are all named Bob.
     
  5. The tallest Flavoid is as tall as Pam Imhof’s hair bun that got her stopped at the airport.
     
  6. It took six months to train the Flavoids not to be carnivorous, but they do know Muay Thai so please treat them respectfully.
     
  7. At the time of installation, there was more cat hair than spiders inside the pitcher plants.

Artist Bio

SuperDaftBros

SuperDaftBros is the combined talents of Ian McCormick and William Baucom, who have been creating together since 2014. Pulling from William’s technology background and Ian’s sculpture and architecture practices, their studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA focuses on using cutting edge manufacturing processes to create one-of-a-kind experiences. Joining the duo for Bog Music is Leo Wolf, a sound artist and musician (also from Charlotte) whose ethereal style adds dimension to the SuperDaftBros’ vision.

< Previous Installation Next Installation >
Back to Map