Data Traffic

"We are facing a road traffic revolution. Synchronised autonomous cars, now trying to fit in a human driving system, are going to reorder the chaotic street dynamics. Car lights, used for vehicles to communicate, represent these changes." (full note)

Data Traffic is a light installation composed of twenty-four car lights, programmed to function as a display for a 4:30 minute-long show. Each lamp contains five bulbs, resulting in a total of 120 individual "pixels". The sound is produced by the mechanical switches used to control the lights.

Exhibited in Kolonia Artystów in Gdańsk (PL),  24.01-29.02.2020.
Electrical scheme: Jakub Kirklewski

"We are approaching the end of traffic as we know it. Autonomous cars are gradually joining human-driven traffic, learning to behave like people, interpret signs meant for humans, and anticipate human behavior. If only robots drove on the streets, we wouldn’t need street lights or traffic signs. By communicating with each other, they could drive without interruptions at a constant speed, offering an ecological solution. Autonomous vehicles could start simultaneously, slow down with inhuman reflexes, and make decisions in a fraction of a second.

The Data Traffic light installation reflects my thoughts on road traffic in the era of autonomous cars. The idea came to me while stuck in a traffic jam. I realized that car lights are not just communication tools; they also represent human behavior, emotions, imperfections, and often competition. Observing this chaotic and primitively organized system, it's clear that humans are not well-suited to drive vehicles. One slow-moving car can bring traffic to a halt, while another speeding car can increase the risk of accidents. I aim to express this dynamic through an animation displayed on a screen built from twenty-four car lamps."