‘Ferromancy’, a project by multidisciplinary designer and researcher Hashem Joucka, consists of a set of three interactive installations. Reflecting on the influence of electromagnetic force on our daily existence, its origin and evolution, this project grants life to a material by using an invisible force and making the invisible visible.

The installations – titled ‘Conception’, ‘The Tree of Life’, and ‘Animate’ – are based on simple scientific phenomena; electromagnetism, immiscibility and luminescence. The installations aim to reveal the beauty and potentials of ferrofluid in art and design with a poetic representation of modern day life and the concept of creation away from scientific hypothesis or religious contexts. The fluid is a highly magnetic, oil-based liquid which produces intricate and subtle geometries when introduced to magnetic fields.

Through combining different design disciplines and rigorous experimentation, ‘Ferromancy’ aims to animate the inanimate black metal. Each of the exhibits consists of a main body and an interactive control panel with a set of inputs, allowing users from different age groups to explore the mesmerizing state transitions of the fluid by varying the intensity of different external stimuli, and take a moment to think about the energy that is constantly surrounding us.

Hashem Joucka is a multidisciplinary designer, researcher and maker currently based in Amman. He earned his Master’s Degree from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), where his research focused on incorporating art, science and technology to create sustainable, interactive environments. Hashem's work focuses to produce custom-made items using digital fabrication, physical programming and smart materials to create functional art and aesthetic technology.

IG: @hashemjoucka