Hudson River Bonsai

Hudson River Bonsai

Elliot Anderson in collaboration with University of California, Santa Cruz Digital Arts New Media graduate students:

Tyler Freeman
Adam Jerugim
James Khazar
Cynthia Payne
No.e Sunflowrfish
Alan Tolefson

Hudson River Bonsai is a computer controlled sound, video, and robotic installation. Branches of a common fichus benjamina tree are strung with wires that are attached to computer-controlled motors. Behind the tree is a video projection of a landscape painting by a selected Hudson River School painter. This image is analyzed by an algorithm, which selects a tree within the image and locates coordinates for the location of its branches and shape in a database. These coordinates are sent to the motors that move the branches of the fichus tree. The system bends the physical tree to mirror a tree selected from the painting. Sound from the motors is amplified and mixed with recorded sounds from nature.