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!
I learned so much in these past two weeks about Synaesthesia — fascinating and so important for us to think about our senses in this time of technological extension of sound, light, smell and so many other aspects. This was organized in tandem with the International Association of Synaesthetes, Artists and Scientists (IASAS) and the Building bridges Art Exchange at Bergamot Station Art center. The symposium is now online for those who missed it, or like me, would want to go back and revisit. Here is the link to the archive.
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! 🙂
After 8 years of work on this project — feels like it is finally taking a wonderful form. Siddharth flew in from Seattle and we worked together on the book and the kickstarter — soon to be up and running. The idea was to have the book and kickstarter ready for this event at the Fowler museum but it took all our energies to pull it together as we were really pushing the possibilities — we had 60 amazing people join the dinner. Since it was held at the museum, we were not able to have our participants bring their food offerings and were super lucky to have Hsin Yu’s mother prepare the feast. Being Taiwanese she really understood the complexity and was excited to work with me closely on the menu based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and Western interpretations of both.
Siddharth (sheep) overlooking the set-up and placement…
Aleksa Mara (horse) sharing her experience with horses…
Marla Berns, director of the Fowler museum speaking about the wonderful exhibition of Cuban printmaker Belkis Ayón.
Mick Lorusso speaking about
Lerah and Siddarth (sheeps) sharing their dishes.
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