INTERACTIVE CODEX

Access to the astronomical tables

Key moments on Earth, chosen by the artist, give birth to new constellations. The project revives the tradition of asterisms: the first astronomical tables recorded only the brightest stars, guiding political decisions, agricultural cycles and systems of prediction. These constellations were at the heart of how civilisations worked; here they are reinterpreted from a contemporary perspective.

The player is invited to interact with these shapes, to memorise them and to wonder about the moments they embody.

Access to the astronomical tables unlocks once the seven constellations have been put back together, opening up a personal use of the great international scientific archives.

The player is then invited to enter a precise moment on Earth, a date, a time and a place of their choice. Once this selection is confirmed, a real-time search runs through the NASA, SIMBAD, GAIA and ESA databases to reveal the stars at the zenith of that point, those that shone exactly overhead at that instant.

This device performs an act of hacking: it diverts contemporary scientific protocols to reconnect with ancient functions of asterisms. By turning astronomical data into a sensory experience, it produces a situated celestial cartography, where the links between observing the sky, human memory and decision-making are played out again.

Video of the latest exhibition (the Codex from 0:25 to 1:19)

A journey through the Codex

The game becomes an exploration of the international codex that today lists all known celestial bodies. These archives come from cutting-edge technologies and a collective research effort, carried in particular by institutions such as NASA and the European Space Agency. The player navigates this cosmic memory through the experience: once the astronomical tables are unlocked, it becomes possible to discover the stars present above a chosen moment.

A situated interactive sculpture

The work takes the form of an interactive sculpture that engages the visitor's body. It is not an online experience but a local one. The Codex is anchored in space and has to be visited to be activated. Playing here means entering into a physical relationship with the work.

A video game interface

The project draws on the codes of video games as a way into accessibility. It relies on familiar interactions, such as touch and gesture. The interface turns learning into an intuitive and immersive experience. The game thus becomes a tool for engagement and curiosity.

Production

Concept / Coordination: Vidya-Kélie Juganaikloo

Production: SPACE MEMORY STUDIO – Vidya-Kélie

Game art/design: Tasnim Ouuali

Game Developer: David Barredo

Developer: Sashi Juganaikloo

Thanks: Sashi Juganaikloo, Solimán López, Viveka Halifi