Thursday, January 28, 2010

Data as Art

In a way that is quite different from the visualizations of Aaron Koblin in our post from last month, Ryoji Ikeda also explores the possibilities of data as art.  Here are two of Ikeda's audio/visual concerts at Ars Electronica 2009 (Austria)


and at the 2009 MiTo International Music Festival (Italy).


For further information, visit Ikeda's official site.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Full Body Gaming

Perhaps we'll label this one minimalist interactive art.  From the designers at Feedtank, the people who brought you Dance Floor Moves, it's Full Body Games. Four different experiences, no joy sticks, no hand held controller. Just you and the screen. Take that, Wii.  Project Natal, you're late to this party; Full Body Games was shown at ImaginOn in 2005 and MediaNoche Gallery in 2006.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Lucid

We were fortunate to be in the audience for last Wednesday's showing of Lucid Possession at Culturemart '10, the annual festival featuring performances by the resident artists of the hybrid performance art space Here.  The work-in-progress was conceived, written and directed by Toni Dove.  With live vocals and violin, audio/video mixing through gesture, a robot, multiple projections, and original music by Elliott Sharp and Mari Kimura, Lucid Possession was complex and compelling.  You can get a taste by viewing this trailer. (Toggle Hi Def in upper right corner)


This run of Lucid Possession is over, but Culturemart '10 continues through January 30th.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Invader - Deuxième Partie

The second wave of Invader's attack is upon us. This time around the outlaw French artist shows us his studio work. Observe how he takes an iconic object from the 1980’s and uses it literally as a building block in his work. Pop cultural detritus is converted into high art in the hands of Invader.


...

Silicon Soul says, "Game (still) on."  In last week's Invader Alert post we reported that we'd been "Invaded" and that we had photographed the Invader art (See below.) somewhere in lower Manhattan.  No one has won yet.  View hint at bottom of Invader Alert for first clue.  Follow the link below to the second clue. Here's how to play:
  1. Locate this Invader artwork (below) in lower Manhattan.
  2. Decode the message.  (Hint:  It's NOT a QR code and you don't need an iPhone.You do need a camera and decoder for this 2D barcode.)
  3. Photograph yourself next to the code. (optional)
  4. Email decoded message and address of the place you found it to us through our contact page.  We'll let you know if you've won.




Fine print:  If you're related to us or have ever worked with or for us, you can't play.  Game ends when we say it's over.  Our decision is final.
Click here for hint #2.  Good luck!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Waves

Last night the members of Silicon Soul attended a mesmerizing performance of Floating Point Waves, conceived and designed by Ximena Garnica & Shige Moiya, with electronic soundscape by Jeremy D. Slater. Described as "an installation of strings and water, real-time video and projection and live electronic music [converging] to create a stunning, seamless landscape in which a single Butoh artist moves."  As part of Here Art Center's Culturemart 2010, Floating Point Waves runs through Sunday, January 17.

Below is an excerpt from an earlier version of the work, performed at CAVE in Brooklyn (with Ninni Morgia on guitar).

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Line Dancing

Here's a fun and artistic way to waste even more time on the job when you should be working. This creative exercise comes to us courtesy of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC. Click on the link below and begin your masterpiece.




Be sure to play with the settings (Fade, Color, Lots) and move your cursor around for a truly interactive experience.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Invader Alert

OK try and follow this: French street artist, Invader, creates low tech art with a retro digital look and encrypts some of the pieces with coded messages, which require high tech devices to read. Oh, and he posts most of his work outdoors, with no authorization, in cities all over the globe.

Invader explains it all in this interview courtesy of jetsetgraffiti.com. This dude is serious about his outlaw status. He does the entire interview wearing a welding helmet.

...
Important message from Silicon Soul:  Yikes! We've been "Invaded!"  We photographed the Invader art (below) somewhere in lower Manhattan.  First person to tell us where it is and what it says, wins a fabulous prize (and bragging rights).  Here's how to play:
  1. Locate this Invader artwork (below) in lower Manhattan.
  2. Decode the message.  (Hint:  It's NOT a QR code and you don't need an iPhone.You do need a camera and decoder for this 2D barcode.)
  3. Photograph yourself next to the code. (optional)
  4. Email decoded message and address of the place you found it to us through our contact page.  We'll let you know if you've won.




Fine print:  If you're related to us or have ever worked with or for us, you can't play.  Game ends when we say it's over.  Our decision is final.
Click here for another hint.  Good luck!

Friday, January 8, 2010

What Is Interactive Art?

Here's one answer from artist/architect Daan Roosegaarde



and one example of his work, Liquid Space 6.0.


Roosegaarde's Dune is currently on exhibit as part of the Victoria & Albert Museum's Decode, which runs through April 11, 2010.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Cranky

Casey Curran's self-described "bling bling micro-ecologies" are fascinating even in their static mode. Created from common objects, which some might classify as useless trash, these intricate kinetic sculptures become functional mini worlds with the turn of a hand crank.

See for yourself in two of Curran’s collections.

The White Series (Biosphere)

Oceania

Monday, January 4, 2010

Not Quite Pandora

Imagine a world where all life is connected through a network of energy that flows through every living plant and animal.  Perhaps this was Tobias Koller's inspiration when he started working on his Interactive Grass - Prototype for the Interaction Design Program at Zurich University of the Arts.

Not quite planet Pandora (from Avatar), but it's a start.