Feb 20, 2026

IoT becomes art at the Aargauer Kunsthaus

Julie Sylvest

How does it look and feel to experience environmental data in the form of art? Currents.systems reveals what usually remains unseen in an extended reality (XR) performance.

Bridging the physical and digital worlds with gigantic noses

At the center of this immersive installation stand two monumental noses, impossible to ignore. In her work at the Aargauer Kunsthaus, Géraldine Honauer merges the physical and digital worlds by integrating real-time air quality data into the artwork.

Sensors are discreetly mounted within the nose structures. An outdoor sensor at Aargauerplatz measures fine dust levels and wind conditions. An indoor CO2 sensor monitors air conditions inside the exhibition space.

These values feed into the currents.systems XR engine and shape a responsive virtual ecosystem that continuously evolves with the surrounding environment.

akenza at the core of the installation

Behind the installation is the akenza IoT platform. It collects, structures, and processes all incoming sensor data. The data translates into digital plankton — virtual organisms that react to the surrounding air quality.

The plankton are colored according to the European Air Quality Index (EAQI), the European Union’s standard for communicating air quality and its potential impacts on health. The EAQI uses five color-coded categories, each representing a different pollution level.

When you put on the XR headset, you become an active part of the ecosystem. Your movement and breath shape it. The digital plankton shifts in color and behavior based on real-time air quality, creating a visual way to perceive the air around you.

The same data pipeline that powers this installation is ready to be deployed for air quality monitoring in buildings and industrial environments. What appears as art here translates directly into measurable, actionable insights in everyday operations.

Check out our video to see the installation in action.