PROJECT ‘FIRELAY’

PROJECT ‘FIRELAY’

By Chris Han

Chris han, Firelay, installation view, 2019

Abstract

This is the on-going project that I have been doing recently titled 'Firelay' which is a new word that I combined Fireflies with Relay. In this project, I will make sort of 'firelay kits' which is a set of parts to be assemble. These kits will be included one relay, one capacitor, copper wire, soldering iron and some tapes etc. People who visits workshop for this project might build their own style 'firelay' by using these kits and it will be hanging on the ceiling of the space periodically creating sounds and light. This spaces for project will be filled with hundreds of 'firelay' as times goes on creating nature-like landscape.

Main text

This is the on-going project that I have been doing recently titled 'Firelay' which is a new word that I combined Fireflies with Relay. Relay is an electrically operated switch usually used to control a circuit. Relay were first used in long-distance telegraph circuits as signal repeaters. They refresh the signal coming in from on circuit by transmitting it on another circuit. In this regard, I was able to research about how early telephone lines were exchanged with using relays. The sounds created by thousands of relays were almost like nature insect sounds such as cicada, crickets, and click beetles. 

I'm interested in when the machine or device made by human for specific purpose become nature or nature-like phenomenon. One of the phenomena that I used to create machine as organism is called 'feedback'. Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause-and-effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to feed back into itself. As a result, any devices which have input, and output potentially can create feedback system. I applied this phenomenon into relay and I was able to create 'firelay' that have infinite clicking movement and sounds that are constantly made. 

In this project, I will make sort of 'firelay kits' which is a set of parts to be assemble. This kit will be included one relay, one capacitor, copper wire, solder and some tapes etc. People who visits show case for this project might build their own style 'firelay' by using these kits and it will be hanging on the ceiling of the space periodically creating sounds and light. This spaces for project will be filled with hundreds of 'firelay' as times goes on. Finally, this place will become not only nature like landscape but also a synesthetic space for SAIC community.

In Korean culture, there is a festival called ‘Yeon Deung Hoe’. In this festival, people make a lotus-shaped lamplight and hanging or fly it away in the air making a wishes. The lamplight can also symbolize the people letting go of their past selves and getting new ones. During this festival, peoples are bond together and have a sense of belonging in the community. Likewise, in this project, while participants create their own lightning bug, they can temporary be in a community comparing what they made from others. Moreover, as their lightning bug hanging and making sound together, the clicking sound that each relay produce are become a rhythm and melody. 

                             <’Firelay kits’ example>

                             <installation view example1>

                 <installation view example 2,3>

                                      <video1>

                                      <video2>

Budget in total: $1000

List

1. transparent relay $3(each) x 100 = $330

2. capacitor $1(each) x 100 = $110

3. jumper wire $20(100 pcs) 

4. copper wire $25(1 roll)

5. solder $35 (1 roll)

6. brass hook $20 (100 pcs)

7. colored masking tape $15 (6 pcs)

8. screws $10 (40pcs)

9. 2*4 wood lumber $7 x 5 = $35

10. 12v dc power supply $10(each) x 10 = $100

11. contingency $300