SEAM2010 Agency and Action

31 OCT: FORUM: Christian Ziegler, Brad Miller and Volker Kuchelmeister

2010-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Sunday 31 October, 2010
Time: 2 to 5pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay More information

This final SEAM 2010 event will be a public forum featuring artists Christian Ziegler, Volker Kuchelmeister and Brad Miller whose works wald forest, Deconstructing Double District and augment_me will be available for public viewing in an exhibition at Critical Path on Sunday 30 October and Sunday 31 October.

Christian Ziegler (ZKM) will have been in residency at Critical Path for some weeks prior to this date and will present on his own work and work he has undertaken with the Wayne McGregor Company and Emio GrecoPC.

Brad Miller will have completed his research residency at Critical Path and will present the outcomes of this residency at this event.

Volker Kuchelmeister will present the work, Deconstructing Double District, a collaboration between iCinema and Saburo Teshigawara.

More about the artists here.

Image: Double District, 2008, a collaboration between iCinema and Saburo Teshigawara, developed with Volker Kuchelmeister, virtual human-scale duet choreography stereographic/3D multi-channel video installation. Image courtesy Volker Kuchelmeister

30 - 31 Oct: EXHIBITION: wald forest, Double District and augment_me

2010-10-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday 30 October to Sunday 31 October, 2010
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Cost: FREE. OPEN TO PUBLIC
Location: Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay More information

SEAM 2010 presents an exhibition at Critical Path featuring Christian Ziegler's wald forest, Volker Kuchelmeister's Double District and Brad Miller's augment_me.

Deconstructing Double District Volker Kuchelmeister
Deconstructing Double District based on the multi channel stereoscopic video installation Double District (2008) with dancer/choreographer Saburo Teshigawara, this work explores a process of deconstruction and subsequent remodelling of a dancer's body in motion. The result is a fragmentation of the body into discrete volumes which are visualised within a computer graphic application. By doing so it is possible to bypass the point-of-view restriction of traditional video/film recording, space and linear time become variable properties and multi-dimensional visualisation becomes reality.
In this project this process is utilised to create an abstract representation and depiction of the dance performance in form of an interactive installation and a filmic work.
web site: http://www.kuchelmeister.net/prj_voxel.html

wald forest Christian Ziegler
Chris Ziegler a media artist based at the ZKM centre for art and media in Karlsruhe, has created a media installation with his piece wald - forest that uses these ambivalences and invites the visitor to take part in an interactive light and sound environment.
The forest is architecture as well as an organism. Beyond civilization, it is an ambivalent place, setting both fantasies and anxieties free. Whereas the black forest - where Chris Ziegler was born - is dark, this forest emits light.
His media space functions as a performance environment where dance, light and electronic sounds are interwoven in constantly changing constellations.
In an interactive sound architecture, composed by Sandeep Bhagwati, the visitor of "wald - forest" remixes a piano piece according to position and movement speed. Finally the space becomes a walk - in instrument, where the user generates and interacts with the forest's sounds and light traces.

www.movingimages.de

augment_me Brad Miller
Augment: To increase the size or value of something by adding something to it. (Oxford Dictionary)
augment_me is a responsive visual database; a memory machine of sorts but a live and developing one.
The images constituting the database are a sequence of photographs and videos, collected over the past 8 years and tracks my relationships with people, things, places, scenarios. They are sequentially embedded with contextual associations arranged (initially) by time and date. This, combined with being able to access and make those images move, appear and disappear – by anyone or anything within view of the camera/sensor in the space where the installation is exhibited, makes manifest the metaphor of memory.
Eight years ago, I bought a cheap digital stills camera on my way to China in 2000 for a brief trip. I took photos as an outsider, of what, to me, was a foreign environment. When I returned to Sydney, I continued taking photos but they were relatively unconsidered. What I mean by ‘unconsidered’ is that I took them as most people, not artists necessarily, take a photo – to record a moment, a person, a thing, a place. Moreover, I had no intention to use these images as art. In that way, I described them as “found” images because despite taking the photographs, the context in which they were ultimately used was other than what was intended.
The "unconsidered" aspect seems to have changed over time, with other influences on the image taking and collecting. I soon began to take my camera everywhere with me and took photos. As they accumulated, I reflected on the material I had already taken and certain patterns/themes began to emerge – architectural details, the state of my bed, signage, faces, abandoned urban spaces, gaps between buildings, friends and lovers, landscape, social events. As well, I bought a new camera and new lenses. This, and the continuing development of the work (augment_me) altered the way I took photos. As they accumulated, and were organized, they triggered associations and meanings, which the individual photo did not. They also functioned as a reminder of things, people, places, I would never remember. The work became a database of memories.
augment_me uses a granular synthesis system - a basic sound synthesis method that operates on the micro sound time scale and uses sound samples thus creating a live soundscape.
With the movement of visitors, the system is responsive to motion via a video camera and used to subtly change, influence, affect, the movement of the images. The motion also affects the dynamics (eg loudness, volume and frequency) in the audio.
http://www.staff.cofa.unsw.edu.au/~bradmiller

Creative Collaborators:
Programmer: Adam Hinshaw
Composer: Ian Andrews
Producer: Kate Richards.

augment_me was made possible by the generous support of the VACB and the Music Board of the Australia Council.

The three artists will discuss their work in a public forum at the close of the exhibition. More information about the artists here.

Image: Double District, 2008, a collaboration between iCinema and Saburo Teshigawara, developed with Volker Kuchelmeister, virtual human-scale duet choreography stereographic/3D multi-channel video installation. Image courtesy Volker Kuchelmeister

18 - 28 Oct: LABORATORY : Choreographing within an Interactive Media Environment with Christian Ziegler (DE)

2010-10-18T21:28:00.000-07:00

Date: Monday 18 to Thursday 28 October, 2010
Time: 10am to 4pm
Cost: FREE
Registration: Expression of Interest due Thursday August 26. For up to 10 choreographers. dancers, digital artists, 'geeks', electronic sound, performance, installation, 3d artists etc
Location: Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay More information

The work of Chris Ziegler ranges from DVD-ROM projects to interactive installations and multimedia performances and performance environments. Christian will set-up his work wald forest as a public exhibition and laboratory space for choreographers to work in. Christian will work with choreographers both as a facilitator but also as a programmer being able to offer them insight and practical exploration of his interactive dance environments.

More information on Chris Ziegler here.

Image: forest 2 - another midsummer night's dream, 2008, Christian Ziegler, theatre installation, multimedia opera. Image courtesy Christian Ziegler

15 - 16 Oct: PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM

2010-10-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

Date: Friday 15 to Saturday 16 October, 2010
Time: Various sessions throughout the day
Registration: Ticketed entry OPEN TO PUBLIC
Location: Seymour Centre, Cnr of City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale, Sydney More information

Early bird bookings now end Tuesday 5 Oct!

For bookings, please contact the Box Office at Seymour Centre.

Box Office, Seymour Centre
P: 02 9351 7940
http://www.seymourcentre.com/

Ticket Prices:

SYMPOSIUM FULL TWO DAY PASS
Symposium full pass standard $60.00 or pass with entry to GLOW $75.00
Symposium full pass early bird $50.00 or pass with entry to GLOW $65.00 *
Symposium full pass Concession $40.00 or pass with entry to GLOW $55.00

SYMPOSIUM ONE DAY PASS
Symposium 1 day pass standard $35.00 or pass with entry to GLOW $50.00
Symposium 1 day early bird $27.00 or pass with entry to GLOW $ 42.00 *
Symposium 1 day Concession $25.00 or pass with entry to GLOW $40.00

* Early bird tickets available until 05 October 2010.

This symposium, curated by Margie Medlin and Garth Paine will feature a program of national and international artists presenting current research and development, including keynotes, presentations, panel discussions, installations and performances across two full days at the Seymour Centre, Sydney.

The international artists include Igloo (Ruth Gibson, UK), Holger Deuter (DE), Frederic Bevilacqua (FR), and Christian Ziegler (DE).

The national artists include Gideon Obarzanek (Chunky Move), Stelarc, George Khut, John Sutton, Kathy Cleland, Lian Loke, Hellen Sky, Nancy Mauro-Flude, Scott McQuire, Paul Thomas, Mike Leggett, Lyndal Jones, Vicki Van Hout, Linda Dement, Petra Gemeinboeck, Garth Paine and Kate Richards amongst others.

To coincide with SEAM 2010, Seymour Centre will be presenting GLOW by Chunky Move and is offering all symposium participants a discounted entry ticket to the performance.

An experiential exhibition featuring Stelarc's Articulated Head, and the Emio GrecoPC Double Skin/Double Mind installation will be held at the foyer and is open for viewing throughout the weekend.

For a preview some of the work which will be featured and discussed at the symposium, including Hellen Sky's Darker Edge of Night and Thinking Through the Body, check out our new Video Sneak Previews page.

Download a full program of events here.

15 - 16 Oct: EXHIBITION

2010-10-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

Date: Friday 15 to Saturday 16 October, 2010
Time: All day
Cost: FREE. OPEN TO PUBLIC
Location: Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale, Sydney More information

Double Skin / Double Mind Produced by Emio GrecoPC and AHK (NL)
Working with the Emio GrecoPC ³Double Skin/Double Mind² workshop installation as a pre-performance experience at the Seymour Centre Assoc Prof Kate Stevens, Convenor, Music, Sound, & Action: MARCS Auditory Laboratories University of Western Sydney – Bankstown has made an open invitation asking the general public to participate in an experiment that investigates pre-performance activity and information on response to dance. Participation will take around 30 minutes and involve interacting with an enclosed projection of sections of the Double Skin/Double Mind workshop DVD.

This will be follow up with some questions during and after the performance of GLOW. Pooled and de-identified results of this experiment, will be published in conference and journal form.

MindBox (linear) SwampSong* Version preview
With the audio-visual triptych MindBox Christian Graupner & partners create an audience reactive installation which leans in form toward the paradigm of a slot machine. The work attracts the visitors' senses offering a joyful gambling- game around musical, choreographic and cinematographic elements as dance & beat-boxing. The latter expression describes a form of vocal percussion from which the installation derives its title.

MindBox is a triple-channel 'media catapult' to be touched. The arm and buttons of a modified fruit machine function as a tactile interface to the actions of a filmed character whose vocal- & movement clusters can be re-composed and re-performed by the audience.

MindBox Creators:
· Christian Graupner (GER) Humatic, media artist, director, composer
· Roberto Zappalà (I) performer, choreographer Norbert Schnell (F)
· IRCAM Centre Pompidou, interactive music & sound design Nils Peters
· (GER) Humatic, system developer & software artist.
· MindBox is produced by Humatic Berlin in co-operation with TMA
· Hellerau & Compagnia Zappalà Danza. The MindBox technology is based on
· HUMAsystem and the FTM & Co libraries for Max/MSP.
· http://mindbox.humatic.net/

Busy Hands Speaking Country Vicki Van Hout (AUS)
The documentary video ‘Busy Hands Speaking Country’ follows a research residency at Critical Path, funded in conjunction with the City of Sydney in early 2010, aiming to explore methods of utilising new media technologies using ‘traditional’ Aboriginal painting techniques and symbolism as a premise for creating material for several performative outcomes, including a new contemporary dance theatre work and an outdoor video projected instillation.

Working with Imogen Cranna, new media artist, Marion Abboud, and dancers Raghav Handa and Henrietta Baird, Vicki Van Hout concentrated on movement generated sequences. These were captured by several video cameras and manipulated by the Isadora program to create live interactive sound and visual scores. This was to emulate the importance and intrinsically linked nature of cultural expression to social custom, including song, painting and storytelling, land and lore.

Sculptured Movement – Proto-type Holger Deuter (DE)
The main idea of the Project is a stereoscopic immersion into dance, time and space.
With digital technologies it is possible to show the movement of virtual body stretched out over a certain amount of time, to transform it into a time-object.

The idea results out of stereoscopic experiments with an exaggerated 3D-Motion-Blur. Motion-Blur normally is an optical 2D-effect according to the cam or the eye position that compensates the lack of Frames-per-second, in reality only viewed in very fast movements (helicopter, flying insects etc.). It shows the directions of movement from the past to the present and it is a sign of movement over time that has process-character.
The project aims to create a 3-dimensional object that can be explored by a camera over time, so the viewer gets the impression of a moving sculpture that represents the time-process.

This sculpture or architecture can be explored by the virtual cam as it stays for a while and doesn´t disappear within an eye-blink like in reality. To enhance this impression, we use stereoscopy to make us feel like it is a REAL 3-dimensional Object. We can go around with the cam and see the arcs and pilates coming out or going into space. So it can be looked upon as a new way of perceiving time as space within the dance.

The final result should be a performance-installation where a live dancer with motion capture suite creates a virtual time-sculpture projected behind them on a 16:9 back projection screen. A user (explorer) with a head-mounted-display would control a virtual camera by an intuitive interface (like flow in Char Davies Osmose-project) that allows slow meditative movements around the body that provide the stereoscopic effect (fast movements destroy).

The back projection shows the view of the head-mounted-display and a passive audience can watch the real dance and the stereoscopic voyage (polarized glasses) of the head-mounted-display -user in sync.

Surround-sound should be controlled by the movement of the dancer (e.g. rotation). The lights-positions should be influenced by the sound, so the shadows on the object will change and move in an intuitive way.

At the SEAM 2010 Holger is presenting a preview (film) that shows the stereoscopic exploration of the head-mounted-display -user, how it might look, once the tools are developed.

Little SIS by AH Squared Angela Hill, Andre Hayter (AUS)
AH Squared is a collaboration of interactive multimedia performance between musician/digital media artist, Andre Hayter and performer/choreographer Angela Hill. Since 2002 we have collaborated on several original pieces including works using motion and pressure triggered sound. Our latest project has been supported by research and development residencies with Critical Path and Ausdance NSW. AH Squared seeks to create immersive environments that accessibly engage participants in their perceptual senses and personal stories, encouraging movement and relationships at the intersection of technology and embodiment.

"Little SIS" uses interaction to both observe and influence behaviour with video-tracking, sound and visuals. It is a Social Interaction System, encouraging movement and changing spatial relationships as participants are tracked with a video camera and the data is translated (via Processing and other open source software) into algorithmically generated sound (pre-recorded text, phonemes and vocal harmonics) and visuals (silhouette ‘blobs’). The real-time interactive audio-visual score creates an abstracted conversation that is reflexive of participatory involvement.

This social performance space hosts communal movement in the mediation of performer and observer. Spontaneous scores demonstrate spatial harmonics and emergent behaviour in the engagement with the “other” – space, gravity, technology, audio-visual stimulus/response and most importantly, other humans. The effect is mutual witnessing in a shared space and responsive environment revealing how we learn through relationship and relate through movement.

Angela Hill will be joined by performers Ryuichi Fujimura, Leeke Griffin (and hopefully you) throughout the exhibition period. Move like no one is watching. Except you’re not alone…

www.ahsquared.com

Image: Mindbox, 2009, produced by humatic berlin in co-operation with TMA Hellerau (Dresden) and Compagna Zappala Danza, based on HUMAsystem and the FTM & Co libraries for Max/MSP. Image courtesy humatic berlin

12 - 13 Oct: WORKSHOP: Software Tools for Sound and Gesture with Prof Frederic Bevilacqua (IRCAM, France), Dr Garth Paine (UWS)

2010-10-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

Date: Tuesday 12 October to Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Time: 10am to 4pm
Cost: FREE
Registration: By Expression of Interest to projects@criticalpath.org.au
due Thursday August 26. For up to 12 choreographers, dancers, digital artists, ‘geeks’, electronic sound, performance, installation, 3d artists etc
Location: Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay More information

Facilitated by Prof. Frederic Bevilacqua from IRCAM, Paris, this will focus on IRCAM’s software tools, FTM/MMM, for motion tracking using optical cameras. This is the same software tools used by Emio GrecoPC in their Double Skin/Double Mind educational DVD, created to introduce people to their choreography.

This workshop will link into work being presented at the SEAM Symposium at the Seymour Centre on the Friday and Saturday (Oct 15 and 16), including the Emio GrecoPC Double Skin/Double Mind interactive installation which will be available in the foyer of the Seymour Centre for people to engage with.

7 - 8 Oct: WORKSHOP: Motion Capture Workshop with Ruth Gibson (UK) Dr Garth Paine (UWS) Prof Frederic Bevilacqua (IRCAM France) and Holger Deuter (DE)

2010-10-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Thursday 7 October to Friday 8 October, 2010
Time: 10am to 4pm
Cost: FREE
Registration: By Expression of Interest to projects@criticalpath.org.au due Thursday 26 August. For up to 12 choreographers, dancers, digital artists, ‘geeks’, electronic sound, performance, installation, 3d artists etc.
Location: Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay More information

This workshop with Garth Paine, Ruth Gibson, Frederic Bevilacqua and Holger Deuter will focus on motion capture and the development of two works by Igloo, Summerbranch and Swanquake, two interactive installations that use pre-recorded motion capture, and Garth Paine's Data Port project.

During this workshop, participants will explore motion capture with an optical tracking system developed by the VIPRe Lab, University of Western Sydney, which uses 18 cameras to output Realtime motion data for real time sound and image generation.

This workshop is open to professional choreographers/dancers, digital and/or 3D artists, ‘geeks’ and electronic audio artists.

More information about workshop facilitators here.

4 Oct: WORKSHOP: Workshop with Ruth Gibson(UK) informed by Skinner Releasing Technique (SRT)

2010-10-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Monday 4 October to Wednesday 6 October, 2010
Time: 10am to 4pm
Cost: FREE
Registration:This workshop is exclusively for choreographers and dancers. Up to 12 places available.
Location: Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay More information

Ruth Gibson has been practicing the Skinner Releasing Technique (SRT) for the past 20 years. She has just finished the first part of her instructor training and will be leading a workshop for choreographers and dancers that is informed by this technique.

Skinner Releasing Technique (SRT) is an innovative approach to dance and movement training developed by Joan Skinner in the early 1960s. SRT utilizes image-guided floor work to ease tension and promote an effortless kind of moving, integrated with alignment of the whole self. Tactile exercises are used to give the imagery immediate kinesthetic effect; spontaneous movement is frequently evoked by imagery and movement studies. SRT smoothly integrates technical growth with creative process. Through the 1970s, Releasing technique was taught by Joan and the American Contemporary Dance Company, primarily in Seattle, Washington. The work continues to be taught and practiced today, deeply influencing many contemporary movement artists.

'Skinner Releasing practices letting go: letting go of stress, letting go of unnecessary holding in our body, letting go of preconceptions about what is supposed to happen, letting go of fear of awkwardness, letting go of the belief that we don't have the right body for dancing. We let go of habitual holding patterns and habitual ways of thinking in order to let something new happen.'

For more information on the technique and further readings go to http://www.skinnerreleasing.com/articles.html.

Ruth Gibson (UK) is a dancer, choreographer and media artist, as well co-director and founder of Igloo, UK. Ruth's visit is supported by a Lisa Ullman Travelling Scholarship and she is an AHRC Creative Fellow. More about Ruth Gibson here.

VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM SEPTEMBER EVENTS

2010-09-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

19 Sep: PERFORMANCE: Concert of Work by Atau Tanaka (UK)

2010-09-19T00:00:00.001-07:00

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED.

Date: Sunday 19 September, 2010
Time: 5.30pm
Cost: FREE
Registration: RSVP by Wednesday, 15 September 2010. OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC

Atau Tanaka is a Japanese/American artist who bridges the fields of media art, experimental music, and scientific research. He creates music for sensor instruments, wireless network infrastructures, and democratized digital forms. His first inspirations came upon meeting John Cage. In the SF Bay Area, he made music from virtual reality technology. Atau creates sensor-based musical instruments for performance, and is known for his work with biosignal interfaces. He seeks to harness collective musical creativity in mobile environments, seeking out the continued place of the artist in democratized digital forms. Atau is the Chair of Digital Media, Director, Culture Lab, Newcastle University

Atau Tanaka will perform in an evening concert at Critical Path, showcasing his utilisation of bio sensing technology in performance. Drinks and nibbles will be served.

19 Sep: WORKSHOP: Bio Sensing with Atau Tanaka (UK)

2010-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED.

Date: Sunday 19 September, 2010
Time: 12.00pm
Cost: FREE
Registration: By Expression of Interest to projects@criticalpath.org.au due Thursday August 19, 2010. A workshop for up to 12 choreographers, dancers, musicians, composers and electronic artists.

As a prelude to September’ s SEAM 2010 events, this Bio Sensing workshop with Atau Tanaka will be the first in a string of workshops looking at technologically mediated performance. Atau Tanaka is currently the Chair of Digital Media, Director Culture Lab, Newcastle University on Tyne. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to bio sensor technology, (MAX/ MSP/JITTER sensors), exploring the performance potentials in muscle sensing, heart rate and brain sensors. We are aiming for a cross section of dancers and musicians to attend this workshop, as Atau’s work applies to both disciplines. As with other SEAM activities, we want to form innovative, challenging environments where new cross disciplinary relationships can emerge to seed possibilities for new creative partnerships in the future.

Followed at 5.30 by performance of work composed by Atau Tanaka. Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay.

4 Sep: PERFORMANCE: Bodytext by Simon Biggs (UK), Sue Hawksley (UK) and Garth Paine (UWS)

2010-09-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday 4 September, 2010
Time: 4 to 6pm Performance followed by sunset drinks
Cost: FREE
Registration: RSVP by Wednesday 1 September OPEN TO PUBLIC
Location: Critical Path, Rushcutters Bay More information

Bodytext is a performance of new work that involves speech, movement and the body by Simon Biggs and Sue Hawksley and Garth Paine following their residency at Bundanon Trust.

A dancer will be sited within an environment augmented and mediated by various technologies, including sensing instrumentation, speech recognition systems and digital audio-visual displays. The dancer's movements and speech will be captured and rewritten into a projection of text animated by the choreography of the performance, which will also be tracked to generate all the music for the performance in realtime.

The work questions and offers insight into the relations between kinaesthetic experience, agency, representation and language.

Sunset drinks following the presentation.

More about the artists here.

Video recording of Bodytext performance at SEAM 2010 launch, 4 September 2010