Materials Girl

Ferrofluids are incredible, visually manifesting magnetic fields.

They are colloidal liquids: comprised of a magnetically responsive nano scale particulate suspended in a carrier liquid, usually water or an organic solvent. 

staceythinx:

Protrude, Flow is an amazing interactive installation piece by Sachiko Kodama and his collaborator: Minako Takeno.

Kodama on his work:

In pursuing to create an interactive installation that moves our instinctual feelings, I created dynamic movements and organic shapes using black lustrous magnetic fluid. This fluid was placed in parts of the installation to express the desire and passion for life. Unlike machines, this installation reminds us of the energy pulsating in our own body. Obtaining flexibility and dynamism with any physical material is long sought after by humans and while artist create surreal pictures or moving images emulating these characteristics, they are imaginary. Protrude Flow is an interactive installation which expresses the flexibility and dynamics found in the physical make up of fluid. The fluid moves in synchronization with sound, controlled by a computer, so that it is able to transform into organic wild shapes and movements.

The black magnetic fluid is able to maintain its strong magnetic force, making it more flexibly transformable than iron sand. This allows the possibility to create complicated three-dimensional organic patterns which appear occasionally as pointed mountains or pliable organic shapes and sometimes as flowing particle streams. Interaction of environmental sound, created by the artist and the voices of the spectators, within the exhibition space stimulates the transformation of the magnetic fluid. These sounds are captured by microphones hanging from the ceiling which a computer then converts the sound amplitude into electromagnetic voltage, determining the strength of the magnetic field.