Results of the mini-residency and exhibition of work in progress towards Dreaming Machine #3 at New Forms Festival 2012.

Photo Credit: Scott Kaplan

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Jonathan Aitken, Greg Corness, Ben Bogart, Kristin Carlson & Rayann Gordon

Video Documentation

This performance represents a continuing exploration of the role of kinetic typography in live performance. Part of a research project funded by SSHRC, the performance explores the relationship between typographic “characters” and dancers. Through the use of near-infrared tracking systems, the dancers are given a measure of control over the movement of words—influencing meaning through motion. Dancers find themselves in a world of words and attempt to develop a shared language.

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Video Documentation

“Step & Repeat #2” is a recreation of “Step & Repeat” (2003) using Arduino and high-resolution video. (more…)

Video Documentation (Hong Kong) (10MB)
Video Documentation (São Paulo) (183MB)
Dream Sequence (Montréal) (83MB)
Selection of Dreams from Hong Kong, São Paulo and Montréal (340MB)

Can a machine dream? (more…)

View Portraits

“Self-Organized Portraits” is a series of portraits composed of thousands of closeup images. The arrangement of the images is determined by a “Self-Organizing Map”, an approach to AI that organizes data based on its essential structure. (more…)

View Landscapes

“Self-Organized Landscapes” are collages composed of thousands of closeup images. The arrangement of these images is determined by a “Self-Organizing Map”, an approach to AI that organizes data based on its essential structure. This is the same approach used in the “Memory Association Machine” and “Dreaming Machine” installations. (more…)

Image | Video Documentation | Dream Video

Can a machine dream?

Dreams are a complex interaction between our bodies, minds, memories, and experiences. “Dreaming Machine” is a trajectory of site-specific artistic works exploring the topic of dreaming. “Dreaming Machine #1″ (prototype) is the first in the series. During the day, the work examines its visual context. Stimulus from the visual context inspires day dreams through its experience. At night the work freely associates elements of its experience and presents them to the audience. (more…)

Images | PDCON07 Paper | PDCON07 Video

“Memory Association Machine” is the first prototype in a series of site-specific responsive installations. Rather than depending on the artist to define how these works relate to their site, the task is given to the artwork itself. The structure of the artwork changes in response to continuous stimulus from its context. (more…)

Ben Bogart & Donna Marie Vakalis

Images | Prototype Video | Installation Video

Resurfacing Website | Resurfacing: Byward Market Website

“Resurfacing” captures and archives snapshots or moments in the urban cityscape. These moments are evaluated both by the dynamics within the frame and by the behaviour of the audience. The public both explores and evaluates these moments through a tactile interface. (more…)

Images | Video

“Reflex” is my latest improvisational work. It is a creative departure for me since it involves both the creation of sound and image simultaneously. “Reflex” stands out as a generative work since the equation used is not something I wrote nor fully understand. (more…)

Prototype Video | Exhibition Video

“Floatscript” is an interactive installation. The viewer is greeted to a touch-screen. The image of the screen shows a number of small words subtly floating in the background. When the viewer touches the screen the words and pulled up to the surface, increasing in size and brightness. When the viewer stops touching the screen the words slowly fade back into the ether. (more…)

Images | Video (low, 25MB) | Video (high, 250MB)

“Vector” is the continuation of Volume Curvature. There is a similar emphasis on form in space, but the main focal point for vector is a strong sense of line whereas Volume Curvature often becomes abstracted to the point of texture. Vector was first performed as part of pixelACHE 2005 in Helsinki, Finland.

Images

Volume Curvature is a performance piece settled in the body of work known as Self-Similar. During performance, complex organic volumes are created. I think of these volumetric forms as virtual kinetic sculpture. The colours, structure and style of the piece are inspired by the architectural work of Frank Gehry. The piece is a fusion of the structure of music over time and architecture. This performance is the first iteration of Volume Curvature. In future development the piece will be realized as an interactive installation.

Images | Video

Self-Similar is a visual performance piece centered on the fractal theme of self similarity. Self-Similar generates images though an OpenGL feedback process so that the part resembles the whole. Self-Similar is performed live in response to an audience and musical context. (more…)

Images | Video Documentation

“Threads” is a visual performance piece that uses letters and words as the material of the image. (more…)

Images

“Step & Repeat” is an interactive video installation. For each step the user takes toward the screen the character on-screen takes a step toward the user. (more…)

Images | Video Documentation | Project Source (230MB)

“Oracle” is an interactive new media installation. It uses real-time weather data, chaos math, and the presence of the viewer(s), to create abstract narratives framed as oracles. (more…)

Images

Science is a system of knowledge. Medicine is a branch of science that deals with the human body. Science categorizes, cuts, dissects and projects in order to come to knowledge. (more…)

Images

Aporia is a network of simulacra. The work exists on two planes, the emotional plane, a literal/metaphorical representation, and the conceptual plane. The conceptual plane consists only of signs. The signified are veiled through abstraction and encryption. Social entities are referred to only by the IP address of their internet presence. Technological entities are represented as patent numbers or diagrams. (more…)

Images

SEED is meant to bring attention to the implications of Genetic Engineering, and the Genome project, in our near future. With the evolution of biotech and information technologies it’s not difficult to foresee a future where biological organisms are digitally designed and manipulated. The the casual shedding of a eyelash could lead to a reconstruction of your being at the genetic level, without your permission. (more…)