Category: LookingOutwards-01

I think for me, I have always been extremely interested in code with a creative focus, so finding a place of inspiration was relatively difficult. When I was a kid, I was so obsessed with video game creation that by the time I had entered 5th grade, I had already mastered three different game-developing software. Whatever free time I had, I was either playing video games, watching youtube, or making my own games. However, when I entered middle school, I didn’t have the time to grow and flesh out my interest in computer science. But when I hit high school, I was scrolling through youtube and came across this content creator named Michael Reeves, who inspired me yet again to get back into coding. Although extremely lackluster, Michael Reeves was motivated by passion just as I was in elementary school. He only wanted to make projects that he thought were interesting; such as little robots and screaming Roombas. I admired him because all his work was original and authentic, and while he joked about it, he cared very deeply about each of his projects. The first video I watched was one of his earlier videos, where he created a real-life cursor using two motors that he hot glued together. Just by moving his mouse on the computer screen, the laser pointer connected to the motors would move on the wall in real life. I thought the idea was both hilarious and intriguing–and without thinking, I decided to recreate his idea. He had built and coded everything himself, so in the spirit of Michael Reeves, I decided to do the same. I continued to follow him through his youtube journey, watching in create more interesting projects such as the cursor. While simple, at first, his projects became more and more sophisticated as his skills continued to grow. For example, most recently he made a surgery robot that you could control simply by moving your hand through space. While his content I would say is not going towards anything right now, the future for me resides in his ideology. I believe that innovation derives itself from passion and authenticity in your own work and I aspire to continue that thought process in my future endeavors.

Michael Reeves Youtube Channel

One interactive project that has inspired me is Van Gogh, the immersive experience. The project uses 360 projections, 15,000 ft squared screens, and virtual reality to make the paintings come to life, almost like you are stepping into the painting. The exhibit is authored and designed by Massimiliana Siccardi, with accompanying soundtrack by Luca Longobardi. The first exhibit was opened in France and later expanded to many other places. The exhibit was created with the help of 60,600 frames of video, 90,000,000 pixels and 500,000+ cubic feet of projections. For the Toronto location, they used Panasonic laser projectors and an internal network, as well as Panasonic’s Geometry Manager Pro Software to create the exhibit. This exhibit points to a future where art is not only on the canvas unmoving but interactive through virtual reality. With the rise of technology, it has opened up the doors to more art forms and also art forms that reimagine the past.

I admire an exhibition created by artistic director Gianfranco Iannuzzi who turned a place into a Vincent van Gogh wonderland. Iannuzzi used 140 laser video projectors that construct a world with only Van Gogh’s artwork. The use of mirrors and magnified images have successfully created an immersive environment. This is the perfect blend of technology and masterpieces.

The project’s creator might be inspired by the great artists’ artworks so that he wanted to create a spectacular space where the artists’ artworks can be presented in an unprecedented way. This project provides insight into the possibilities of the presentation of artworks. And for possibilities, it can be more than just visual art, there can be more and more immersive forms of sonic arts.

Link of the video of the exhibition:
https://vimeo.com/328457542
Artistic director: Gianfranco Iannuzzi
Artwork from: Van Gogh

My favourite video game is League of Legends, which I would consider to be a form of interactive and computational art. While it is mostly developer-driven,
one of the main reasons I came to love the game so much was Riot Games’ founding philosophy: to let the game be player-influenced and free to play. To my knowledge, Riot Games made the game entirely on their own, and the idea came from two bright minds fresh from developing a popular Warframe 3 mod, DOTA. It took four years to develop, and it was finally released in 2009. Having kept their loyal fanbase from DOTA excited for a new game, League of Legends was an instant success. Riot went from a small indie game company to a well-known studio, boasting a sizeable team of just under 3,000 employees.
League wasn’t the first game of its kind in any way. However, its incredible staying power has transformed the realm of possibilities for video games.

https://www.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/
Riot Games

“I am AI” (2018) by Taryn Southern

A project that I find interesting is a music album called “I Am AI.” This album was created by Taryn Southern, and was the first album by a solo artist composed and produced with AI. Taryn Southern used machine learning to produce composition. She used many commercial tools, one such example being Amper, an AI music composition company. Because of my love for both music and technology, I find this project very interesting. This project also shows a glimpse of what could be created in the future. Imagine having an almost infinite choice of new updated music from genres you enjoy, constantly being created by AI. In an age where everyone loves pumping new and improved content into their heads, this would definitely being interesting and well accepted by the public.

This is where you would enter your blog essay.

Artist website