three artists related to my final project thoughts

Motivational Sensitive Organ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMyhhKiYXgk&feature=player_embedded), by Scottie Chih-Cheih Huang, is an interactive sculpture that uses face recognition and motion sensors to detect viewers, and moves accordingly. Its form resembles a cascade-style fern, which perks up when a viewer approaches and reaches toward the viewer. It makes me think of how a plant reaches toward the sun, upon which it is dependent for energy, and how machines are dependent on humans to supply them with energy and purpose. This piece relates to my thoughts on my final project because it deals with machines mimicking living things, which is something I want to do, and it does something based on the viewer's approach. My midterm project with Kelsey also reacted to the viewer's approach, and I very much enjoyed watching people's reactions. It encourages play, and makes the piece seem aware of its surroundings. MSO also has a fragile, delicate aesthetic, which appeals to me.

Theo Jansen (http://www.strandbeest.com/) is designing an artificial animal that moves based on wind power. These creatures are beautiful, and while they look alien, they look and move like living creatures. The scale is particularly impressive; they are the size of elephants. I was particularly taken with the way he talks about them. He always refers to them as animals, or skeletons, and when he is done with a design he declares it extinct and puts it in the bone yard, where the fossils of old designs can be seen. His goal, after he finalizes the design, is to release a herd of them on the beach to live their lives.

Octofungi (http://www.yvesamuklein.com/) is a sculpture that uses light sensors to detect the viewer. It will move differently depending on the viewer's movements. More complex responses can be had from gentler, more dextrous movements, and aggressive movements will make it behave timidly. Its design is visually complex and aesthetically pleasing. I am in love with this piece (well, the website sucks and there's no video of it in action, but I love the photos and description).