Category: LookingOutwards-04

BIY Believe it Yourself is a fascinating project that allows machine learning to create subjective outputs using inputs from the environment. Created by Shanghai based design studio automato.farm, tt is interesting in that the project uses the logic boards as part of the physical artistic representation of the concept. Superstitions and fortune telling from different cultural folktales are programed into Rasberry Pi in order to compute random results to audio. For example, if a person’s name is spoken aloud, the computer interprets the name and outputs a lucky number and destiny based on Indian Numerology and Astrology. The studio, automato. farm, is known for their work regarding social commentary. This is a very fitting design, because it shows that people live with superstitions but computers seem to be objective. The subjectivity of these computers gives humanity to computing in a new way.

Link to project: https://www.creativeapplications.net/scripts/biy-believe-it-yourself-real-fictional-belief-based-computing-kits-by-automato/

CarbonScape, a kinetic data sound installation that incorporates both traditional and futuristic concepts of technology, is a work by a Chinese artist Chris Cheung. This work consists of 18 different tracks of synthesized sound samples that visualizes the carbon dioxide levels from data received by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Inspired by the artist’s natural environment, the installation is designed like a series of bamboo forest with black spheres inside representing the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. This black sphere changes its position from top to bottom (to show the changes in carbon dioxide levels) as the sounds are emitted under the bamboo-like tube. I am deeply admired by this installation because of the combination of man-made object (sphere & tube) and natural energy (sound) to create a single piece of art that represents our world’s natural disaster. I know that the data from the NOAA that is computed to automatically send its information to the installation generated this artwork. I can see from the installation that the artist pursues minimalistic design, which also attracted me because the simple black and white structure made the installation easy to see/read and also made it visually appealing. 

“Algorithmic Drive” is an interactive installation created by Francois Quevillon, who was inspired by dash cam recordings and autonomous cars. Generated with a database of recordings from the car’s built-in camera, the captured videos are synchronized with information, including speed, location, orientation, altitude, as well as temperature of various motor sensors. This mechanism utilizes data analysis and computer vision algorithms that statistically sorts the content, then fabricates endless videos made with specific parameters related to the car’s activity and its current location. The interactive aspect comes with a controller and screen that allows the audience to engage and maneuver the system. I found it inspiring how the artist gained his creative spark from a technological venture, and developed an art piece that raises many ethical questions in our minds. According to Quevillon, he wanted to signify the issue of technical, legal, and moral issues that are involved in autonomous vehicles that can function without human intervention by “feeding and following algorithmic procedures” (Quevillon). As such, spontaneous events can always occur, especially road accidents due to unexpected causes.

Algorithmic Drive – Spectacular car(au)tonomy

“Cycling Wheel” is inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel, but takes this project on a new level of interactive performance that creates light and music. Using the mechanics of this instrument, the sound and visuals are generated by using a software made from computational language called “Processing”, along with three other units that control light bean, music, and LED strips.

I found it really impressive and interesting that the artists chose to take Duchamp’s sculptural piece and transform it into a new way of experimenting with the bicycle wheels and add another element of audio to it as well. Inspired by a very physical, tangible artwork, these artists create abstract patterns using lights and smoke that really made this experience exciting. What is important is that these artists did not only create an interactive instrument, but also used it to hold a performance for an audience.

In July 2018, Funkhaus Berlin featured sound art called, “Meandering River”, a vibrant landscape showing the gradual flows of nature by onformative. The audiovisual installation portrays a small snapshot in our fast-paced and changing world. The artist believed in the importance of featuring real nature through art. The movement of the rivers shows the constant in past and present life. Onformative wanted to show the unchanging nature although with all the transformations going around in life. 

The “Meandering River” is a multi-channel video with a set generative soundscape. The algorithm calls attention to the abstract imagery showing movements of the fluctuations in a river. The music accompanied and adding to the piece was composed by Berliners Kling Klang Klong, interpreting river patterns and shifts in the surface. The artist wanted the audience to be more aware of time in order to reel out an emotional journey.

“Cycling Wheel” is created by Keith Lam, Seth Hon, and Alex Lai. They were inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel, and further transformed mechanics into light and sound.

In the design processes, there were three variables: music, light beam, led strips. Each was generated and controlled by electronic devices. 

The designers eventually transformed the computer-generated sounds into an exciting, appealing, and rather dramatic show.  They perform while generating music and light. Music and light together create a certain engaging rhyme that draws audience’s attention. Mechanics input is intricate and professional, whereas the final result is interactive. The complicated design logic is simplified into the motions of spinning and touching.