Pulsate – Melting Time, Dissolving Time, for my little sea (2008) Sachiko Kodama

 This installation is composed of three parts. A table on which ferrofluid dish is sitting, a small monitor which is mounted on the wall, and a metronome.  Displayed on the monitor is a video of the sea. A microphone is hidden behind the wall, and if people come close to the monitor and speak, this will trigger the ferrofluid’s spikes to suddenly appear. Also, if people turn the knob of the metronome to make a rhythm, the ferrofluid pulsation synchronizes with the metronome.
The combination of the metronome as a metaphor for time and the visual affect from the video of the sea arouses one’s forgotten memories. This revelation is symbolized by the pulsation of the ferrofluid, which is brief but evocative.