Boid Biosphere: A Living Foyer

Boid Biosphere: A Living Foyer was an installation created for the fulldome show premiere Urban Biosphere Ruhr. As part of the event, visitors could experience the work before and after the concert in the foyer of the Bochum Planetarium. The installation transformed the circular space around the dome into a living, digital biosphere where virtual swarms (Boids) surrounded the audience. Most of the screens displayed video sequences, while a single screen at the entrance tracked visitors' movements and offered touch interaction. The work experimentally interprets swarm behavior in virtual space and also invites viewers to interact with these dynamic, collective movements.

Urban Biosphere Ruhr

Urban Biosphere Ruhr: A data-driven composition is a multimedia work for piano, multichannel electronics, and full-dome video projection. Created by Essen-based composer and media artist Philip Popien, the piece premiered at the Bochum Planetarium on November 21, 2024. It explored urban biotopes in the Ruhr region through data-driven observations, incorporating video and sound recordings, 3D scans, and rare species inventories as compositional material. The work aimed to heighten awareness of the unnoticed wonders of urban nature, offering a fresh perspective on everyday life. The composition was performed by award-winning concert pianist Mirela Zhulali and was funded by Neue Künste Ruhr.