Destructive Interference: Encoding Loss in the Overlap

TL;DR

This paper presents a data visualization sculpture that uses rotating interlocking rings and shadows to represent and evoke emotional reflection on the mass shooting statistics in the US during 2024.

Contribution

It introduces a novel physical installation that encodes complex violence data through parametric design and dynamic shadow casting for emotional engagement.

Findings

The sculpture effectively visualizes violence data through physical form and motion.

It facilitates emotional reflection and conversation about mass shootings.

The installation demonstrates a new approach to data visualization in art.

Abstract

Destructive Interference is a data visualization installation that representing the deaths and injuries caused by mass shootings in 2024 in the United States. I parametrically designed and fabricated an interlocking ring sculpture for each month of 2024; where the overall height corresponds to the level of violence in that month. Taller forms mark the deadliest months, while shorter ones reflect fewer casualties. Each inner ring encodes the number of people killed or injured, and each outer ring encodes the number of shootings and the number of days without them. The interlocking cylinders are powered via a motor to rotate, and lit from within. As the cylinders rotate, they cast overlapping shadows that represent those killed or injured by mass shootings. The goal of this work is to visualize otherwise overwhelming and disparate statistics in a way that is both physically present and emotionally resonant. By inviting viewers to step into and engage with these shadows, the piece creates space for reflection, conversation, and confrontation with the scale of this ongoing crisis.