Image via Complex Original
Pairing art with technology is by no means a new trend, but it is a continually growing one. With various institutions around the world establishing their own art+tech incubators and collaborative exhibitions, we are seeing new and exciting projects unveiled just about every week that could change the way we view both fields.
Unless you’re checking for that sort of thing, it’s easy to miss the news of these groundbreaking collaborations. Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are 10 Art Tech Collaborations You Haven't Heard About Yet.
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The Aether Project
Researchers in an advanced design course at UCLA's Department of Architecture and Urban Design created this "immersive interactive environment" known as The Aether Project under the guidance of Guvenc Ozel and Casey Reas. The project uses Leap Motion sensors, projection mapping, and robotics to create a semi-autonomous structure that appears to float across the room as the projections transform its geometric faces.
Art Canvas
You don't know about Art Canvas because the platform is still being developed. Fábio Rogério SJ and Marcos Frare are participating in Google's DevArt program, updating the project as it goes. The idea of Art Canvas is to have a virtual painting canvas with hand controls as well as gesture and voice commands. The beauty of DevArt is that you get to watch the project develop from an idea into something amazing. At the time that we're writing this, so much has probably changed already, so you should check out the Art Canvas page for the most current news about their progress.
Ryuichi Sakamoto and the YCAM Interlab collected bio data from trees and translated that information into electromagnetic responsive audio waves. That sound profile feels calming and natural, becoming the soundtrack to the installation and the perfect compliment to the visuals of the hanging speaker boxes and screens that show the recorded waves.
1000 Hands
Another Universal Everything project, 1000 Hands is an app that turns fingertip drawings into a dynamic digital installation. The project was commissioned by the Science Museum's Virgin Media Studio, and visitors were invited to see their drawings dance around on the circular projection screens. The app is available now for Android and iOS.
The Color Project at IFP
MPC New York and artist Thompson Harrell created this massive 27-screen installation for The Color Project. The project uses satellite imagery from Google Earth, color sampling applications, and automated bots to create complex mosaics. Each mosaic is compiled of 324 individual images from locations all around the world. Watching all of the video screens zoom down to different points on the planet is mesmerizing, and there is no shortage of focus points as the sequences change. Check out the video of the project in motion below.
The Moment
Hyun Ju Song and Mi Lyoung Bae created this audio/visual performance piece using disassembled typography as an "exploration of language." Using their individual skills as sound and visual programmers, Song and Bae designed this awesome piece to be shown with a three-screen projection system. The parts of the letters form strange shapes and symbols, but hardly ever words, representing situations when there are none. Watch the short version of the video below and click through to the project page to see the longer version.
Swarm Synthesizer
Cyrill Studer and Lazar Jeremic worked with designer Ludwig Zeller to create a visualizer better than anything iTunes has to offer. The particles in the synthesizer mimic a swarm of bees, if bees could choreograph dance moves to electronic music. They made it so that the code was knob and button controlled, turning the project into a bit of a performance.
Radiohead's Polyfauna
Radiohead, Nigel Godrich, Stanley Donwood, and Universal Everything created a "a living, breathing, growing touchscreen environment, born from abstraction of the studio sessions from 'King of Limbs' and the organic drawings of Stanley Donwood." The trippy app blends Donwood's art into a sort of augmented reality with nature sounds and Radiohead's music. The content changes on the app each day of the month, so in theory, you could spend hours spinning around with your iPad watching the crazy lightshows and virtual environments.
eeeeemail.com
Swedish artist Jonas Lund and technologist Michelle You presented their new email exchange application "eeeeemail.com" at Rhizome's Seven on Seven conference late last year. The app addresses what the designers call "Fomo" or the fear of missing out. Users authorize the app to send an email to someone who is not already in their network. The email is randomly chosen from the user's inbox and sent anonymously, but not knowing where your data will end up is both scary and interesting. Watch as Lund and You activate the app at the event and talk about their collaboration:
World Online Orchestra
The World Online Orchestra (WOO) is a collaboration between the Copenhagen Philharmonic, Helios Design Labs, and Makropol. The interactive platform looks to bring classical music, smart design, and the online community together to create a unique resource for sharing and fostering the culture. Musicians can film themselves playing and bring together clips of other musicians and the Copenhagen Philharmonic to build their own digital orchestra. Watch the video below and check out the Kickstarter page to learn more and support the project.
