Listening to the talks by Rose Bond and Matt Adams made me wonder about the type of art I want to create. Both their works reflect what they believe in and are passionate about.
Rose Bond
At first glance, one may think Rose Bond’s work is a simple animated projection on a building. However, there is more than what meets the eye. I was surprised to know how each project had a particular narrative to convey. I also did not expect the amount of research the artist had put into each of these works. I have always had the impression that such projections were only for aesthetic purposes and did not have much meaning. I am interested in the research process behind the works of Rose Bond and how the concept is realised. I like her earlier animation works as of it showcased her style. I also like that the imagery is only accompanied by music and the work is left up to the viewers’ interpretation.
Matt Adams
Matt Adams started off making a statement:
interactive = unfinished (works)
Our work in interactive media is never completed because it is heavily dependent on the users’ interaction with it. I think this is something I can learn from because I am always overly-anxious to complete a project. An unfinished work does not mean it is a failure as a project because there is always room for improvement for every creative project.
I was surprised his initial interest began with theatre because it was something I was interested in as well. His reference to Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation was something that struck a chord with me and helped me better understand the inspiration in many of Blast Theory’s works. While talking about Desert Rain, Matt Adams posed a question to the audience, “How do we make sense of the world when all our political knowledge is mediated?” This made me question the type of art I want to create. As aspiring creatives, I feel that it is important we know what kind of experience we wish to give our users / target audience. There are many levels of mediation and information becomes lost in translation. Thus, we have to be even more careful about the message we want to bring across to our audience.
The two projects by Blast Theory that I was very inspired by was “Can you see me now?” as well as their recent “2097: We made ourselves over“. In Can you see me now?, Blast Theory explores the irony of the internet. Although it has helped connect people on many levels, it has also disconnected them. With the game it is even more apparent when the real life is faced with other forms of obstacles and interruptions that the virtual map cannot replicate.
In Blast Theory’s recent two works Karen and 2097: We made ourselves over, they tried to talk about issues that the world faces with the advancement of technology. With the increased use of Facebook, profiling and big data becomes tools of marketing and control. Our experiences on the internet becomes more and more mediated. Matt Adams ends his keynote with a few pointers that I think we should think about:
- Bringing change through art
- Interactivity becoming your agency
interactive = unfinished / agency / political
I think that art and life can never be apart. Art that aims to reflects life can never be apolitical. If art cannot speak for the masses and the oppressed, who can?
