The only thing we were not prepared for was the number of people who were interested and wanted to try it out. In the end, we did unplugged versions and let people try on the octopus crown — they were lining up! Updating with more photos and impressions soon!
UCLA Newsroom featured Octopus BrainStorming:
For the last year, two professors from UCLA have been inviting people to take part in one of the most interesting conversations of their lives. The most recent setting was at a technology and art convention in Slovenia. In a darkened room two people each wore a ceremonial crown that resembled a fluorescent octopus, which covered brain-wave–reading electrodes attached to their heads. But the strangest part? The participants never uttered a word to each other.
Welcome to “Octopus BrainStorming,” a participatory performance art installation that combines the technology of neuroscience with an artistic interpretation of the type of communication exhibited by octopi. read more HERE
Immediately after 24/7 non-stop time @ Ars Electronica, we packed up and traveled to Trbovlje, Slovenia to set up the latest version of Octopus BrainStorming. Mark flew in from LA for just this event and was there for 3 days only before flying back for another set of deadlines. It was the most advance version to date! Here is a short unedited video — this is real time, color and sound changes activated by non-verbal communication of Aleksa and Mitja who volunteered and performed for over 2 hours!
Just arrived to Vienna — getting ready for the symposium organized by Ingeborg Reichle. This project has its’ own momentum! I have to start working on the sound issues — visuals are no problem — gorgeous visualization by an amazing process involving biologists and animated by Martina Fröschl who is working on her PhD under the direction of Alfred Vendl.
These are the first photos we just received of the first version of Noise Aquarium from June at Brisbaine Technical University and – how exciting! Martina and Alfred Vend are here from Vienna to work on the project for just a few days only so this is such a boost!
Could not be a better location for the Noise Aquarium and it turns out that they were just setting up the Plankton exhibition. The director was excited about the idea and I had a great tour and am looking forward to working in Pula!
Bird Song Mimic will be at the Japan Media Arts festival at the same time that Bird Song Diamond is at Ars Electronica’s Deep Space! East West bird communication has to be established! 🙂
I was prepared to do an actual workshop that would last half a day but was told that it would be 90 minutes and no more. This was a challenge so I decided to buy the food and do one round of the audience serving. Amazingly, we had 12 people and 3 were snakes, 3 rabbits and 3 pigs (incuding yours truly:). This was a good test how to do a fast session — it was TASTING not lunch or dinner! People certainly got the idea and many were asking how we may plan the real dinner sometime in the future.
More photos from the workshop