Kinetica once more

Kinetica put on a new show since I last was there. This time, it's about "Visionaries & Luminaries", so all the works exhibited have something to do with light or its absence.

One of the works that struck me both with its simplicity and effect was Jim Campbell's picture of moving shadows.


As you can see, the method is achieved via an LED panel superimposed on a photograph, but the effect is stunning since the matrix of the panel can be addressed dynamically. The shadows look very convincing and vary in size, shape and movement.

There were also some pieces experimenting with fluorescent surfaces like this "lamp-shade" here:



The picture below is of a camera-obscura-style piece which works with strobe light. It's hard to document it with a single frame, so in case you like it, make sure to check it out for yourself.



Some more images below...










Pictures in this post are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 UK: Scotland License.

RCA Interaction Design Interim Show

Last weekend I went to the RCA Interactive Design show which displayed several works in progress. Having attended the last two consecutive graduate shows which were held annually, I was curious to get a glimpse on future gadgets and conceptual ideas.

Among the works which really interested me was "Flat Future" by Miquel Mora which showed practical applications for super-thin microprocessors applied on tape to suit various everyday purposes. Whether it's labeling fruit, attaching speakers to a book you read at the moment or taking exact measurement via "smart tape", the possibilities are endless.



I was aware that Siemens are currently doing active research in the field of super-thin displays. The above project seems like the logical progression. While I would suspect that a lot of marketing experts would only deem these displays to have advertising on them all the time, Flat Future shows luckily enough that it doesn't at all end there.

The guys over at we make money not art also have a post about the whole show, for those among you who would like to check it out....

Next up was an Origami remote control. Nice one. Although I loved to play with the folded object which served as a model for the remote control, I wasn't able to fold one myself back in the day when I was a kid, as I focused more towards the perfection of the paper plane per se.



However, it is yet another example that new and exciting innovation with electronic media does not need to stem from more powerful hardware, as more hardware usually means that more things can break, lag or freeze, it is also more complicated. In the wake of Nintendo being the rejoicing third party while Sony and M$ are engaging in a console (and DRM) arms-race, this remote control not only shows that simple and effective is the right way to begin with, it might even have commercial success one day...

I also liked the emotoscope which gives you a vintage super-8 feeling while looking through it, along with the flickering and the sound.



Some more images of other projects below.












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Dada 2.0

I came across the portfolio webpage of Portuguese digital and robotic artist Leonel Moura. There are some really cool things on there so I suggest you check it out. One of his latest works is a destructive robot called Dada 2.0. It apparently destroys everything which is in the reach of its sensors.

You can find a video of the performance here.


Digging a little bit further while trying to find out more about Leonel Moura, I followed some links to a really nice genealogical tree of robotic art, for anybody who's interested...

Kinetica

Last Sunday I went to the rather crowded Spitalfields market in order to check out this little gem which is located right inside the market space: the Kinetica Museum.

It is allegedly the UK's first museum dedicated to kinetic, electronic and digital art.
Some impressions:


This is a mechanical installation which simulates the movement of a feather and is hooked up to a motion sensor in order to detect the blades of grass. I personally like the rustic, nature-like look of it.




A huge inflatable sculpture which simulates the breathing process of a human being. There are two of these attached to each other and the air always floats from one to the other. A bird-view of the smaller version below.




Several snapshots of "writing machines". The German word for typewriter is Schreibmaschine which loosely translates to "writing machine". Seen in this light, that notion becomes an unforeseen twist and opens up a new perspective to think about these media.





An interactive projection piece which responds to moving objects inserted in the projection range -like a hand for example- and changes its shape accordingly. My suspicion is that along with the projection, it features a camera with real-time imaging software which analyses the projection grid and changes the objects' shape. The kids loved it.



A solar powered mobile which generates its own movement by tiny propellers which are attached to the particular parts. Neat and simple. I liked it.




Pictures in this post are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 UK: Scotland License.