is an artist who transforms complex datasets into physical, immersive installations that make abstract information tangible and emotionally accessible. My work bridges research, art, and communication through materialized data. Let’s connect!
Inspired by the course Complex Networks and Applications (Lead Instructor: Prof. Albert-László Barabási, Co-Instructors: Dr. Louis Shekhtman, Dr. Brennan Klein) I was curious to understand the invisible threads between people, what the work and social connections look like at Barabasi Lab. With the help of a custom-made script, all active colleagues filled in their data: they were asked how many times on average they speak to their coworkers about work issues as well as non-work related. The data collection was conducted in the fall 2022, mainly in October and November, processed and analyzed in December and January 2023. In parallel, I sketched different ideas of possible visualization and realized these ideas as small prototypes. During this process, I used an “adapt-to-the-need” working method of mixing digital and manual tools such as drawing, coding, 3D printing and crafting.
In the course of the data processing, I tested different interpretations of the number and strength of the connections. The present work is a “frozen moment” in the life of the lab. Each node is a person, and the number of the wooden sticks correspond with the number of his/her connections. The links are represented by paper-ribbons, where brown is social and white is a work connection between two people. If both a work and social link existed, this visualization shows the stronger (more frequent).
Melinda Sipos, Csaba Both, Rodrigo Dorantes-Gilardi
The project was realised in the framework of my guest researcher period at Networks Science Institute/Barabasi Lab (Northeasern University, Boston) made possible by Fulbright Hungary and the Rosztoczy Foundation.