Reading Assignment

What is this reading about?

This part of the reading generally focuses on the idea of Virtual Reality (VR) and how it was developed and explored since the time of Cold War. VR was actually first developed by the military for the purpose of simulation of war scenarios and combat strategies. However, through time, the goals of VR became more advance and serves a bigger purpose than it used to.

From the beginning, Mynon Krenger was a pioneer in the Interactive works in early years. He developed “Videoplace”, an artificial reality laboratory, where he has begun to move away from the use of equipment to facilitate the idea of VR. He created “Videoplace” with the aim of creating an artificial reality that responded to movements and actions without googles or gloves. This was the first stage of Interactive work that broke the traditional definition of Interactive Media.

Following this advancement, there were more artists that begun to challenge the potential of VR. Char Davises is one of the artists that challenges VR and created Ephemere and Osmose. Through Ephemere, she removed traditional methods of using hand held equipment but instead used special sensors on data gloves and wide view head mount. Using Osmose, she allowed individuals to become more physically immersed rather then simply the conscious mind in control.

Reflections

For me, what was really interesting was how the reading said that Osmose was able to evoke

 “intense feeling of realness and feelings of freedom coupled with emotional levels including euphoria or loss at the conclusion of the session.”

Furthermore, it encouraged and pushed people to have the desire to do things in order to feel the emotion and feelings of existence.

Through this reading, I was able to explore VR a little more, learning about the history of VR and how it can be used and collaborated with other different mediums to enhance the experience, not limiting it to the mind or the body. This also means that the set up of the experience is as important as what the experience itself contains because the surrounding creates the mood which in turn re-emphasise on the experience itself. Similarly, it is just as important as the medium chosen to transmit the aim and goals of the experience which will hence bring about the feeling and action of the individual.

I think it was interesting to also see how VR progressed and how it actually existed a while back and was only more recently re-developed with the increased interest especially in gaming. VR back then and now was indeed quite different considering the gears and gadgets available. Today, it has become a more immersive experience with the improved graphics and features of interactivity while then VR felt more like a video in the past. The change in aims from using several wired equipment to simple and minimal gears and using art to move and push more for an action. I think Interactive Media has become more effective, influenced and more wide spread as compared to the past. It is really interesting to see how the landscape of interactive art changes from the past till now.

References:
http://www.immersence.com/publications/2004/2004-MLovejoy.html

Field Trip to NGS: Life Circuit: I/O, Disappearance, Bar in the Gallery with Inter-Mission

What was the event about?

The two-day interactive piece that involved the re-exhibiting of Lee Kang So’s Disappearance, Bar in the Gallery (1973) as well as the collaboration of technology in art by Inter-mission, namely Urich Lan and Teow Yue Han. During the performance, there was a lot of sounds and visual stimulation via videography. This included scenes from Urban Shibuya on live Google Hangouts, scenes from the gallery itself being videoed by Teow as well as pre-recorded videos, all being toggled with. While Lan adjusted the sounds based on reactions from the live audiences.

 Teow Yue Han toggling the Live Google Hangouts from his laptop.

Teow Yue Han recording the surroundings of the gallery.

Through the performance, Lan then begins to put on gears such as gas mask, headphones and an eye mask that had two display screens facing the audience. The gears became his life support as it replaced and rendered his senses useless. The setting also involved several microphones around the area to record the sounds from day one of the event as Lan moved around with the gear, unable to see or hear his surroundings.

Urich Lan wearing his gears.

Urich Lan moving around the performance area.

Based on the conversation we had with Teow after the performance, we found out that the “Life Circuit” element of the interactive piece is due to the continuation on the second night of the two-day event. Dancers would be invited to perform live, reacting to scenes that were being recorded by Teow on the first night. Teow summarises it by telling us how day one was mostly an input and streaming of data, generating lots of footage while day two involved more of the output and stripping everything down to the bare minimum.

 

Reflections and Impressions

I think the use of Lee Kang So’s Disappearance, Bar in the Gallery (1975) piece helped to frame the interactive piece. The 1975 piece had a purpose of showcasing the problem of existence, where Lee felt that while he was with his senior at the pub drinking,

“we were there and not there at the same time”.

While he was physically present, he could envision and be immersed in another scene in which his experience would vary drastically from another individual.

Lee Kang-So, ‘Disappearance, Bar in the Gallery’, 1973, Myong-Dong Gallery, Seoul, Korea. 
Image courtesy the artist.

Similarly, to bring out such disappearance, the scene of Shibuya, an urbanised area in Japan, was chosen to bring out the comparison between something of the past, versus the current urbanisation. This suggested the element of disappearance. At the same time, the use of the gears to replace the senses of Lan also suggests a sense of him being physically present, but unable to see, hear or sense anything in the real world, allowing him to immerse and encompass into another world of his own.

The life circuit created by Lan using his devices included the two screens on his eye mask showing the different scenes while the gas mask used as a form of speakers. This further emphasises on the complete removal of senses from the performer and the idea of being present but not present as the audience and the performer may be looking at each other but they see very different things.

I was impressed with the idea and concept that they used to re-furbish this idea and exhibition piece of Lee Kang So’s Disappearance, Bar in the Gallery (1975). While conveying a similar concept, the use of technological equipment made it more relatable to current day context and engaging. At the same time, it felt more personal to me due to the removal of the senses, causing me to experience a sense of uncertainty and unknown for the performer while at the same time knowing where he was. It was also interesting to find out about the continuation of the event on the second night bringing a sense of closure for me regarding the event as it became clearer and more impactful.

References:

https://inter-mission.art/
“Disappearance”: Lee Kang-So’s 1970s works at Gallery Hyundai, Seoul – original interview extract
https://www.nationalgallery.sg/blog/happenings-at-disappearance-bar-in-the-gallery https://www.facebook.com/events/national-gallery-singapore/happeningsdisappearance-bar-in-the-gallery-with-inter-mission/2360794190803627/

Inspiring Interactive Art: the event of a thread

What is it about?

“the event of a thread” was created by visual artist Ann Hamilton and held in Wade Thompson Drill Hall. The main interactive art involved a large piece of Cloth hung in the center, connected to many threads that intersect and attached to the threads are swings for people to sit on. The hall resonates with voices from radios in paper bags scattered around. While in another area, live inscriptions are read to birds contained in cages. Individuals could also write letters addressed to qualities, emotions or faraway places. With so many events happening in the same space, these events were somehow still connected.

Reflection and thoughts

I felt that it was very intelligent of Ann Hamilton to use the idea of a soft flowing piece of cloth to express the idea of connectivity. As people on the swings may not be able to see the domino effect of how each of their actions are correlated. However, the presence of a physical item that shows the continuous rippled movement of the cloth as it sways left and right, rises and dips, clearly shows how a single movement can affect another in the interlaced and ever complex society.

While the address of the inscriptions is echoed through the radio and throughout the hall, it provides a steady rhythm that connects the individuals in the hall together while providing a sense of intimacy via the voice. Despite being a single individual, the sound is being effectively used in this large area to bring the people together, minimizing distance (not physically) but spiritually into a single space.

While showing connectivity, Ann Hamilton also creates an area for reflection, allowing an individual to write letters. As they reflect on the event that is occurring before them as well as their individual lives. The caged birds released at the end of the day also provides a form of comfort and release for both the birds and the viewers as they regain their freedom.

I think what was interesting was that Ann Hamilton, while she studied textile studies, what she has weaved here in this event is not just simply a cloth, but more of a society where we are individualized and yet connected through elements in the exhibition. At the same time, she creates a time and a common space for people to be in. Selecting the right cloth and locations of activities to be placed at becomes crucial as it brings together the idea of a sense of both connectivity and isolation to engage in and reflect upon. While the event and her studies may seem vastly different, she uses her knowledge of textile studies, and implements them into the the event as she weaves the idea of isolation and connection nicely in this common space and time.

References:
http://www.annhamiltonstudio.com/images/projects/armory/Ann_statement_final.pdf
http://www.armoryonpark.org/programs_events/detail/ann_hamilton

Ann Hamilton’s “the event of a thread”
https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2013/01/the-event-of-a-thread/