neonascent

Still not got Internet connection fully up, but after a huge break in updates I thought I’d stick up pictures of my graduate exhibition work.

The sculpture was a wooden space 3×3x3m. A wooden framework was built, and wall segments were mounted on an axle that allowed them to spin freely. The segments were spun using high-torque, geared motors mounted at the top of the walls.

The work was intended to invoke a sense of questioning to assumptions of context, space, and given meaning. The viewer is free to enter the sculpture as a room, with all wall segments closed to created a solid and enclosed space. Occasionally, the walls begin a slow 180 degree rotation, through which the each segment moves in concert with the others. Halfway through the rotation, the wall segments are perpendicular to the rooms framework, and the room becomes and open space. The walls then close up again. This point of opening shifts understanding of the space from a normal room, to the much wider space that the viewer becomes part of as the room “dissolves”. It is intended to be a point of satori.

• Link to Flickr Set

A collaboration with Maja Baska (and her fisheye Lomo) to produce a kitchy peace project. It’s fun, but deals with issues of Western Culture and idealism, shopping therapy, etc.

I am having a mockup ring-bound (continuation of circular motif) booklet printed. I need to try and source cheap printing as this Kinkos print is costing nearly $20!

Check out the Flickr set for fun pictures.

Approaching rapidly is the 2006 CoFA grad show. My aim is to create a space allows intuative interactivity - without an overstated and distracting use of technology. I am currently working on the design of a structure built from modular (equilateral triangle) IR sensitive lights. These lights will have behaviour embedded in them via PICs (Programmable Intergrated Chips). One of the design considerations is to allow for easy transportation, and operation independant from 240v power. This will allow it to be set up just about anywhere. I have modelled a maquette of the structure using the 3D software Maya:

An idea of the shape.

Here is an idea of the shape and relative size of the structure. (roughly 3 metres high)
The interior is fully lit for illustration; in operation the segments will not all be activated at once.

Acess and Egress via this opening.

“look it is in a field!” The modular nature of the structure allows for easy transportation, and the electronic components can be run from a car battery.

Hollow rods (probably Aluminium, though maybe cheaper plastic tubing) allow very easy setup.

The modular tiles will most probably be velcroed onto the rod frame. Other methods have been considered (for example butterfly bolted onto the rods), but the velcro will give much higher tolerance to joint alignment in quick assembly.

More design shots soon…

Here are the geometric specs of the structure:

Faces: 40 modular triangles (minus the 2 missing for entrance), 4 distended base triangles.
Rods: 5 x 13 = 65 Rods
Convex, 5-rod joins: 6
6-rod joins: 10
Base, 5-rod joins: 5
Base triangle, 5-rod joins: 5

Initial pricing rundown:

Amplified IR receiver: 40 x $3.65
PIC12F629-I/P : 40 x ~$1.30 (from Microchip Direct)
5mm Ultrabright LED: 40 x $2.40

Power consumption rundown:

PIC chip PIC12F629-I/P: 8.5 - 100(1Mhz) mA
5mm Ultrabright LED: 30 - 100(peak) mA

Well I’m not very good with regular schedules, but here’s this moments epitaph.

The previous…

The above image (with zoomed detail below) was created with a script I wrote way back in 2003. I’ve just rediscovered it, and have been tinkering around with it a little. The script allows you to recreated composited images using coloured circles, randomly generated winding characters (as above), or your choice of text as a substitute for pixels in the image. I’m tempted to get some A0/A1 sized wall posters printed of some of these, as I really love the aesthetic, and think there can be some fantastic effects produced with the right choice of text + subject.

I’ll give access to the script if anyone has any immediate ideas they’d like to implement with it… Give me a yell.

Here is my latest completed work, which was featured in the Transilfacturalising exhibition.

Exploring the subjectivity of time, which has become hopefully clearer to most after the delay of daylight saving time for the sake of the Commonwealth games. While it is presented as a device for measuring time, and it functions admirably as one, it also serves no use. It does not count in seconds, and does not divide into collectively referenced unit. The 70s sci-fi faux-futuristic style also speaks of some Distopia/Utopia that could operate on this scale.

LED lit 5-digit mechanical counter than progresses with a satisfying “click” roughly every 2.5 seconds. The base exhibits a faint green halo.

Tech side: It used to use one of my trusty PIC16F84 chip, which triggered a sound chip. I decided it was more elegant without, and so it uses 555 timer chip. I have it in my room at the moment, and the “click” acts as a momento mori to reduce procrastination. Images are accessable through the dedicated Flickr set.

• Link to Flickr Set

Long time no post, and as I’ve been and still am very busy this one will be short.

The 3rd year Sculpture, Performance, and Installation students (myself included) are holding a little mid-semester state-of-art exhibition in the College of Fine Arts performance space. A few images are currently online in a Flickr set, but there shall be more soon, once I get some more from Maja.

I put in two works; one quick and fun readymade, and an electronic sculpture that took quite some effort to make. The second is called “A device for measuring time”, and presents itself as an absurd device that counts with no reference to standard time periods or divisions. It’s all about the subjectivity of time, and how this reality conflicts with the presentation of time in political/economic/rat-race word as vitally concrete.

• Link to Exhibition Images

Not much blog activity recently - sorry.

Check out the placeholder for the Dirty Suzie (subculture photo magazine) website. It features an exquisite illustration by Haruka Nishii, and is sitting happily at http://www.dirtysuzie.com.

Please comment any feedback you have for it.

I’ve now set up the Internet TV infrastructure to allow us to easily host a “video channel” of Carrie & Vostok episodes. A Carrie & Vostok channel is available which, in after downloading Democracy, will allow easy subscription to episodes downloaded distributively via BitTorrent.

The channel is empty at the moment, but hopefully will soon be teeming with movies!

Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI, is an industry-standard electronic communications protocol that defines each musical note in an electronic musical instrument such as a synthesizer, precisely and concisely, allowing electronic musical instruments and computers to exchange data, or “talk”, with each other. MIDI does not transmit audio - it simply transmits digital information about a music performance. (from Wikipedia entry)

Many may know that I’m a keen musician with some sound engineering experience. This project is to combine music and geekery interests and see what comes out of the mix. Yesturday I completed my first MIDI device. It is just a test of concept really; the first step in hopefully some more advanced MIDI/sound manipulation.

I use a PIC16F84 chip at 4Mhz to directly talk to whatever MIDI device the circuit is connected to. The homebrewed MIDI transmit code was taken from Ross Bencina’s site on MIDI development with PIC and Basic Stamp which, if you are interested, is a great resource.

Here is some of the technical material to help you get started quickly on your own MIDI project:

• My rejigged source code for 4Mhz operation (I also add turning on the “Okay” LED)
• Link to annotated circuit schematic
• PIC16F84 Datasheet (comprehensive programming information and specs)

Edit: If you are experimenting at all with MIDI output devices, you will probably benifit from a computer based MIDI monitoring program. This lets you examine the raw MIDI data being sent by your device, and helps greatly in troubleshooting. I am currently using the aptly titled MIDI Monitor found at OBD Software as it is free and does a fine job.

Edit: I’ve recently completed a remote automation project that lets you turn 110-240vac devices on and off via the a webpage or WAP on a mobile phone. It’s a very fun project! If you’d be interested in a write-up (schematics, code, etc) then leave a comment here, and I’ll get writing!