The Periodic Table of Emotions

Sagacity is a live responsive digital installation based around the Periodic Table, reflecting the emotional state of its location.

Sagacity has been in locations such as Lumiere Durham – commissioned by Artichoke as a large scale scale light installation; The Great North Festival; the United Nations, medical conferences and BBC Free Thinking Festival amongst others, on large and small scales. 

Sagacity acts as a barometer of the emotional state of its location. As it reflects it aims to catalyse conversations, about why we are feeling the way we do about where we are. However, it is up to those who occupy that location to respond and initiate change

It was initially commissioned by New Media Scotland and Dundee Contemporary Arts

Sagacity acts as a barometer of the emotional state of its location. As it reflects it aims to catalyse conversations, about why we are feeling the way we do about where we are. However, it is up to those who occupy that location to respond and initiate changeThe installation works through sentiment analysis of Twitter

When one of the emotional words from the Periodic Table of Emotions is detected it becomes illuminated. As the emotion is tweeted the colour/ intensity of illumination increases. Over time the intensity fades unless it is tweeted again.

The emotions are grouped according to type and coloured accordingly. They are also given an emotional weight. For instance, Happy is lighter than Ecstatic, Fondness is lighter than Passion. Similarly feeling Sad is not as heavy as feeling Desolate. Low emotions are coloured blue, happy and love, red. Anger is purple and so on. 

Sagacity also exists as a limited edition print from DCA in white, archival ink on 308gsm photo rag or in black on the same stock from me – address below.

If you would like to use Sagacity at an event or festival please contact me at ajmoesby[at]gmail.com