VOLATILE I
A unique site-responsive installation activated by the visitor’s presence, the gallery surroundings and the weather to monitor changes in the air quality and increase awareness for air pollution’s bioindicators.
Visitors interacting with one of the Volatile I sensors (detail)
Volatile I sensor monitoring Humidity, Index for Air quality and Pressure (detail)
Video filming Volatile I sensor monitoring the Temperature and CO2 changes and the artist, Marta Ferracin, indicating the Temperature, Voc Index and Pm2 Particulate lines (extract)
Site-responsive installation
Volatile I (2024) is a unique site-responsive installation, reacting to visitors’ presences and the gallery’s environmental changes.
It is complemented with a series of air quality sensors that mimic the sentient activities of lichens.
Having no roots and relying only on the natural elements – sun, air, and water – lichens truly are guardians of our environment, generating air quality bio-indicators.
Set up around the gallery, the sensors are programmed to measure the particulate matter in the air, CO2 or carbon dioxide, air quality index, volatile organic compounds, air pressure, temperature, and humidity present in the gallery.
Changes in the sensors’ measurements are dependent on the audience’s interactions with the space, and other factors, such as the weather and nearby road traffic during the three-week period of the exhibition.
The graphs shown on the micro computer’s displays are visual representations of the invisible changes in the air in real time.
Artwork details
| Artwork | Volatile I (2024) |
| Material | Mixed media, 3 controllers ESP32, 3 separated sensor units, Raspberry Pi displays, processing sketch |
| Dimensions | Variable – 2 gallery rooms
24(L) x 4(W) x 7(H) cm - each compound unit |
| Price | POA |
| Exhibition |
Marta Ferracin: Convergences
Incinerator Art Space, Willoughby City Council, Willoughby, AU 21 March - 14 April Artist talk 6 April Workshop 13 April |
| Links | Willoughby City Council Art Collector Willoughby Community Preschool |
Credits
Activation design
Chris Daniel
Photos and video
Corey Rankin; Christopher Verheyden; courtesy of the visitor
Provision of Incinerator Art Space
Willoughby City Council
© Marta Ferracin 2025 Website by Natalia
Installation assistant Christopher Verheyden