Aanikoobijiganag

Title:

Aanikoobijiganag

Date:

Fall 2022

Artist Credits:

Artistic and digital design, direction, coordination, construction: Awanigiizhik Bruce

Electronics consultation and expertise, computer programming, coding, 3D print: Adrian Cheater

Materials: 

Microcontroller computer chip, fairy LEDs, 3D-printed thunderbird case, antique trade beads, glass beads, dentalium shells, coral, turquoise, leather, vinyl electrical tape, nylon string, and brass bells. 

Art Description:

Aanikoobijigan is thought of as an infinite string that connects and ties us all together. The word “Aanikoobijiganag” represents the encompassing idea of both our ancestors and descendants. This microelectronics jewelry piece offers a real sense of Aanikoobijiganag. The microcontroller’s display screen and the LEDs are sound-reactive from speech and music.  

In Anishinaabek culture, we say our people come from the stars; the LEDs are reminiscent of those luminary beings akin to our star relatives coming into and leaving their human lives via Bagone-Giizhig (Hole in the Sky). The LEDs animate to sound and glow, dim, and change colors. 

The high-resolution screen will display randomized, selected pictures of our ancestors and our living relatives. The order of the picture narrates the binary code of ancestors and descendants’ photos in a continuous, sound reactive display. The 3D printed thunderbird case references a powerful spirit helper and national icon for the Anishinaabek. It represents power, electricity, and changes, which is fitting for an Indigenous Futuristic art piece.