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Time Sifter

Shlomit Lehavi

Since the beginning of time, man has been intrigued by the concept of time. And so am I.

http://timesifter.com/



Time Sifter is a viewer-controlled environment immersed in visuals and sounds that plays on the theme of the time machine in the digital age, and suggests a journey in time through motion, place and sound. A totem pole shape, composed of sieves/screens, is both the mechanism and the metaphor of sifting time. Each sieve flips around the x-axis (initiated by the viewer.) With each flip the video's content changes so the viewer has control on re-creating the environment, the video sequences and the narrative.
Time Sifter aims to evoke a discussion on time and space in the digital age.

Background
Aciman, André. “Arbitrage.“ False Papers.
Pamuk, Orhan. The Black Book
Pickover, Cliffird A. Time-A Traveler’s Guide. Oxford University Press, 1998.
Solnit, Rebecca. Wanderlust - A History of Walking. Penguin Books, 2000.
———A Field Guide to Getting Lost. Viking, 2005.
Zerubavel, Eviatar. Time Maps Collective Memory and the Social Shape of the Past. The
University of Chicago Press, 2003.

Movies/TV:

La Jetee / Sans Soleil (1963) Director: Chris Marker,
The Time Machine (1960), Director: George Pal, based on the novel The Time Machine by H.G.
Wells
The Time Tunnel (1966) TV series Directed by: Irwin Allen, Harry Harris, Nathan Juran,
Herschel Daughetry

and the city of Istanbul!!

User Scenario
The viewer flips the sieves by hand. Each time the sieve is flipped the video content is changed. The viewer will create unique sequences. This will enable the viewer to see the video at different points in time —past present and future across multiple screens. Viewer can also play with the sieves/screens to create a new randomly-generated visual environment.

Implementation
A totem pole shaped steel construction, composed of circular wooden sieves hand crafted in Istanbul and retrofitted with projection material is hung from the ceiling. The translucent nature of the mesh creates a two layered three dimensional effect on the screened video inside the round sieve and hence an additional experience of time and space. The height of the top sieve is eight feet, and the bottom sieve is at knee height. The sieves sit inside custom rings so that the totem shape is solid. Each sieve inside its ring has the ability to flip around the x- axis. Each sieve has its original mesh on one side and screening material on the other side. The rear projector sends circular images framed by each sieve. The viewer flips the sieves by hand. Using Max/MSP/Jitter in communication with a micro controller and a proximity sensor, each time the sieve is flipped the video content is changed. The viewer will create unique sequences. This will enable the viewer to see the video at different points in time —past present and future across multiple screens. Viewer can also play with the sieves/screens to create a new randomly-generated visual environment