Category Archives: Final Project

Escaping Too Soon?

Right off the bat, here’s the final image of the first Hyperessay post so I guess it’s only right to start this project update with this image as a talking point. This image sparks some positive conversation last week and I agree that this image have so many layers and conspiracy theories to unfold but that’s for another paper. What I do what to emphasise is that the uncertainty and the mystification of this image is what makes people begin to interpret what they see and that is a work of a good art, which is to make people ask question, not about the art, but about themselves instead. I think this image is just a medium of expression for me but also for the audience.

With that being said, I believe the element of ‘escape’ speaks for itself and I don’t have to bring it up to talk about it. I feel the definition of Escape is so wide that everyone have their own interpretation of Escape and I do want to keep it that way actually. In my final broadcast, I have decided to play a mash up video of webcam footages/pre recoded videos, while I am present in the frame/space controlling what the audience is seeing. Similarly like the first image, all these different layers will be overlay each other to create a certain aesthetic. To control this, I have my Arturia Beatstep machine with me, as shown in the photograph below.

Arturia Beatstep

How it works is pretty simple. I will be using a max patch to do this. Each button and knob will control the diameter of an effect. So when I turn a knob, it will control the amount of hue or noise for example. Even colours can be manipulated. I will also use the effect from vizzie, to create these beautiful yet sophisticated visuals of Escape. I also hope the audience will be in a state of trance, I mean escape when they watch my broadcast. Below is an example of my patch so far. It’s pretty messy right now but my biggest worry is actually, the speed of the computer, lagging issues.

I have jit.record my sample video below. As you can see, I am playing live in front of the webcam, which adds another layer that I am being watched as well, technically.

This is just a sample process video which I make. If you realise, there will be instances where my image will be replace by beautiful giant bars that remind you of Rothko’s paintings. I was experimenting with the idea of the secondary frame which I can control as well, it create some kind of a break in the video to depict the concept of ‘Escape’.

From now onwards, I have to pick the right clip to show for the final broadcast. I believe there must be a flow in the video and I will work on the narrative as well.

The Great Escape

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Let’s recap: My idea for the final broadcast was the concept of the Escape. In my previous post, I juxtapose a video of a plane taking off and also a scene where the bus is at the Causeway. These two elements of escape in a sense that I am escaping from Singapore but figuratively, I also wish to escape from the reality of living in Singapore, the stress and the high expectation of living in a First world country. Then it makes sense, because the idea of broadcast ties in the idea of escapement. For example, watching movies in the cinema or any screen for that matter, is a temporary escape from reality and able to sit down and enjoy in a very control situation (happened in the movie), we forget about reality for 2 hours.

During my Skype meeting with Randall, we had a discussion on the direction my project is going and have asked me to do these few things, in order to progress in a progressive way. To sketch ideas of what escape means to me and to take elements of escape/flight in a photograph.

The bus is the vehicle for an escape.

I actually use a film camera to capture these below images. Some images I took based on my feeling towards the idea of ‘Escape’.

Escalators transport us to escape

This is the view when I lie down on my bed at home. An escape for me as well.

Train tracks is the medium to escape

Escape to the white light outside which brings uncertainties

The haze give an effect of the garden of eden

all you need is to climb to escape

A room to escape

that light at the end of the hallway is your only escape

the path to escape the world, will you take it?

again, the bus is the vehicle to escape, take a seat and enjoy the escapade

during raya haji at the mosque, a temporary escape for religion

when the prayers are done, everyone ‘escape’

that is a dead bee actually, i guess he ‘escaped’

Performing the Solat is a temporary escape to get closer to God

By taking these images and looking back at them, I think the next step is to take videos of flight or escape. My initial images of flight or escape was too literal for example, plane taking off, ships at sea or busses moving. I think if I take moving images which also represent escape and juxtapose it with a live broadcast video of me doing an action, I think it will be more interesting and also open for interpretation.

Randall also asked me to test out if I can link websites to max msp to do some effect and so i tried a thing or two.

I used the Jweb where basically I can open a browser on a max patch and then i uses jit.broadcast to actually show what my browser is showing and then alpha blender it with the webcam video.

For now it is just a experiment and it is still ongoing.

Regards,
Kamarul

Progress/Thoughts on Final Project

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My previous idea stays put but in order for me to develop it even further, I need to know the how final broadcasting is going to happen. I guess I need to know what I can do and what is not possible. Will I be accessible to Max/Msp? Can I broadcast wirelessly through a mobile camera while still broadcasting through the transmitter?

I’ve given some thought of my previous idea of using the causeway as a metaphor for escape, for freedom and creativity that this self need after living in his home country. The need to break free. Anyway, I went over to Malaysia over the weekend, took the public bus and manage to film some video while the bus was crossing the bridge that separates Singapore and Malaysia. Then a epiphany hit me, I got a couple of videos of plane taking off taken from the view from inside. Plus, it be good to have another one from the sea. All these actions symbolize escape, moving out, departure, breaking out, flight, leave and so much more. This would then be a good layer to talk about the state of myself always wanting to find my ‘place’ in society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-4j7HsW13E

As much as I really like the idea, I have to think of what broadcasting live means. I know by definition that I have to transmit something and also be able to ‘perform’. If I were to look at this way, then my initial idea was actually, layering all the different clips and overlay it with me performing some kind of act that compliments the videos. In order to do this, again, I need to know what is able and not able to work within the constraint of the equipment available. I’ve made some video sample with max msp.

The thought of broadcasting our final assignment on the Internet actually makes this project very wide and the possibility is endless. In order to make this project a success (in terms of numbers of viewers), I need to be able to attract the attention right at the first second. Sound also plays a major role as well since it is video broadcast.

Good Morning, Mr Orwell, Nam June Paik

I like how Nam June Paik does all the overlaying of live video in his Good Morning, Mr. Orwell. I was really inspired by that idea and I hope I have the chance to do something similar for my final assignment. I also hope to integrate some form of glitch art into the video as well if I have my hands on max/msp or quartz composer.

Final Project Initial Ideas

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As mention during the class about a few weeks ago, for the final project, I have an idea of combining live feed of road traffic cameras of the traffic heading towards Malaysia via Second Link or the Causeway. Juxtaposing it with another bridge which Randall suggested the golden gate bridge at san francisco.

I’ve manage to find out more of the live feed camera of the Golden Gate Bridge but it’s not working so great. Here, take a look.

I kinda have to keep pressing refresh to see the changes of the next second/frame. Talking of the Golden Gate Bridge, i know there’s an artist that use the latitude numbers to check numbers of suicide happening or something like that. I can’t really remember but I know there is an artist doing that. Please someone help me.

Anyway, I realise it’s the same as well for the Singapore traffic. But for Singapore, I am able to find traffic cameras from all over the island. Majors expressway basically. Take a look!

Looking at both traffic camera in one blogpost, I can really see the comparison better in terms of visual placing. There is some similarities. But wait, I googled Los Angeles Traffic Camera and they too have a live feed camera of their roads.

But yeah, it is not a live video like how I want it to be. Instead, it’s just snapshot of a second. It could work if I can have the page refresh automatically every 5 second or so.

Now back to the chopping board.

The Anatomy Of Life & Death

you know what? Bang Me

Category Archives: Final Project

Escaping Too Soon?

The Great Escape

Progress/Thoughts on Final Project

Final Project Initial Ideas