Democracy in Motion
Jan 20
Jan 29 2023
window installation in-person
See Details
Free
158 Front Street, Unit 110 (west side of Sherbourne, north of Front)
Jan 20Fri 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 21Sat 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 22Sun 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 23Mon 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 24Tue 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 25Wed 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 26Thu 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 27Fri 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 28Sat 5:30pm 11:30pm
Jan 29Sun 5:30pm 11:30pm

‘Democracy in Motion’ is an original multi-media installation exploring the visualization of an existing data set about the state of democracy in countries worldwide. It includes a dance film, musical score, data projection, and display of 3D crystalline-shaped models inspired by the data.

It explores how we might better understand human stories and insights within data to nurture our relationship with information and make learnings more experiential in ways that facts and figures alone cannot do.

‘Democracy in Motion’ was born to explore data from The Economist Group’s annually published Democracy Index. The index comprises 60 indicators of the state of a country’s democracy in five categories: electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.

Using data points corresponding to these categories, a series of radar charts representing five countries between 2005-2021 was created. Using 3D modelling software, stacking these charts (see image below) created crystalline shapes that embodied the condition of democracy existing in each country during this period. Taking this one step further, we 3D-printed these crystalline shapes to create physical objects.

How is one to interpret data through movement? Our original interpretation and approach are inspired by differences between nations in The Economist Group’s Democracy Index Score. Their graph depicts averages of each country’s data over the same 16-year period visualized through the medium of our crystals. The dancers have translated these two-dimensional data represented on the graph into movement. For example, India, which has been the most volatile of these countries during this period, required more pronounced, jerky movements, while the U.S. and Canada, which have been more stable (other than a discernible dip in recent years), experienced less change, therefore requiring smoother movement. The dancers’ movements were captured on film and layered with the musical score.


DesignTO x KEDD

‘Democracy in Motion’ is one of 10 projects in the King East Design District (located in Old Town Toronto), a neighbourhood running along King Street East, from Church Street to Parliament Street. During the DesignTO Festival, you are invited to visit exhibitions, workshops and talks hosted in the showrooms of select local businesses.

On Friday, January 27, join us for King East Design District Party presented by DesignTO, a roaming neighbourhood party anchored by five Party Hubs. The KEDD Party is a must-attend bash, bringing together hundreds of designers and design-lovers.

Participants

Ian Chalmers, Robin Uchida, Dave Brennan, Brenda Little, ARCTRN Group / Roberto Campanella, Co-Founder and Artistic Dance Director, ProArteDanza / ProArteDanza dancers Sasha Ludavicius, Connor Mitton, Evan Webb, Carleen Zouboules, and Joey Arrigo / Marc Ganetakos, Sound Composer, Musician, and Producer / Andy Huckle, Huck Media / Justin Hawley, @justmakeralaker / Greg Woodbury, Charles Street Video

Acknowledgements

ArcTrn logo
Aquavato logo

Accessibility

Who should visitors contact with questions regarding accessibility?
Ian Chalmers
Computer rendering of crystals from democracy data
Initial computer rendering of crystals from democracy data
Dancers and choreographer workshop in studio
Dancers and choreographer workshopping the concept
Filming dancers in theatre
Filming the dancers
Outdoor projection of final film from Nuit Blanche 2022
Outdoor projection of final film from Nuit Blanche 2022