M-INT Kobe sports cosmically-influenced LED lighting system

In an apparent attempt to convert the average office building into something akin to a landing strip, Takuro Osaka is hitting the public with a showing of his "cosmic art" by illuminating opposing sides of the 18-story M-INT Koba building, slated to open for business on October 4th. Osaka, a professor at the University of Tsukuba and the owner of a "light art studio," led the push to have 2,880 blue LEDs installed on the building's west side, which will glow (or not) based on the amount of cosmic radiation surrounding it at any given time. The LEDs' sensors transform "cosmic energy" into pulses of illumination, ensuring a constant light show that's, um, never consistent. Apparently there's no actual utility in the smattering of lights (besides great publicity, of course), but for Osaka, it's one step closer to getting his "enlightening" artwork to a gallery where it would really shine: outer space.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

[Eric @ Sep 30th 2006 2:28AM]

This would be sued by neighboring homeowners, blocked by the FAA, picketed by employees who actually have to WORK in the building, protested by the Cancer Association of America, and laughed at by every news anchor....

If it happened in America.

[Justin @ Sep 29th 2006 12:36AM]

Interesting art piece. It will be cool to see pics of it in action. I wonder if they are planning on displaying it long term or if it is just a temporary piece they are using to decorate the building for its opening.

[Me @ Sep 29th 2006 1:11AM]

Wii

[David @ Sep 29th 2006 1:32AM]

If it's really "never consistent," this might have interesting applications for random number generators and the like.

[Evan @ Sep 29th 2006 10:55AM]

We already have too much "light pollution" in cities. If they want "cosmic art", they should remove lights so that people can see the stars.

[pmjoyce @ Oct 2nd 2006 1:48PM]

Sony should tap them up for their Blue LED supplier