Bjoern Schuelke

 

I found his artwork to be very clever and innovative. His work is very interactive, turning the spectator into an actor. It all works through kinetic systems that react to sound patterns, light, or any other change in environment. His work is very modern in look, and is composed of contemporary technology. Pieces that use solar kinetic energy have very advanced parts including solar panels. One large scale piece that uses solar panels is the "Planet Space Rover" that looks similar to a NASA space rover, yet functions on its own with the sensors in its solar panels. It has a rotating body, moving arms, a monitor, a long wave scanner, and a sound detector. His work has a very futuristic look. This is especially true for the "Drone 2." It includes solar cells, heat sensors, propellers, video chips, and a monitor. It hangs from the ceiling, taking on the shape of perhaps a spider. It reacts to heat, but the source of the heat has no control over its actions. This is a fancy surveillance system!

 

Eduardo Kac

 

Eduardo Kac works with sensors to create relationships between robots and live creatures. His piece "Darker Than Night" connects humans, robots, and bats. A "batbot" is placed in a zoo cave with 300 Egyptian fruit bats. Spectators can watch as the electronic bat sweeps through the cave with ultrasonic emissions. It has a sonar in its head that detects sound, which causes the batbot's head to spin. Participants can then enter into the cave virtually through a virtual reality headset. This piece allows for humans to grasp a new view of animals, how they live, and the differences between their species. Eduardo Kac's piece called "Uirapuru" allows for interaction with the robot from inside the building and through the internet. His duel-function idea came from the bird Uirapuru, an Amazonian bird and a mythical creature. His robot stands as a "real" animal and a mythical creature through its interactions in the present and at a distant. In the gallery, participants control the movements of the robot. Through the interaction on the internet, pingbirds start to sing Amazonian bird songs.

 

 

George Legrady

 

George Legrady’s work focuses on very interactive yet mathematical electronic art. “Blink” is a full wall projection of sets of eyes. They open and close according to their neighbor’s behavior. The movements are based on statistic calculations of the predicted movement. Another statistical project is “Making Visible the Invisible.” This instillation consists of six plasma screens set up behind a library desk. The visualizations are of non-fiction books catalogued according to the Dewey decimal system. They are shown on the screen according to their statistic of going in and out of the library’s collection.