Description of previous projects WHAT/ HOW/ WHY?

Writing next Wed. -->

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L_p
in collaboration with Yoana Buzova


//What?
L_p is a stop motion short film - an abstract exploration of how blind people perceive light, which is essential for sight, and aims to present their own way of “seeing”. It observes and at the same time opposes the connections between light and darkness, seeing and not seeing. The film is an attempt to visualize the issue of vision loss – with its social, philosophical, psychological and even physical aspects – without resorting to a documentary style or pretence. It raises a series of open-ended questions, based on facts and hypothesis about blindness and light perception. Ultimately the viewer shares a glimpse of what blindness might look like by experiencing a deconstructed version of some of its notions.
//Why?
We came up with this project by first asking ourselves how light could be seen from a different perspective. We sought to escape from a strictly visual way of thinking or “image brainstorming”. The idea of light pollution or what actually happens when there is light overconsumption or light waste came to mind. Everything is illuminated. Light is all around us. We are too used to experiencing it and could hardly imagine or fill out the lack of it. And what happens if there is no light?
//How?
We used a simple source of light or more specifically, a desk lamporiginally, designed by George Carwardine in 1932, based upon the constant tension principle of human limbs. There were thirteen different sets of lamp’s configuration, which represented selected notions – facts and abstractions, linked to visual perception. Every segment of the film reveals to one such fact, question or abstraction. The text is an important feature of the whole; it conveys information, collected from different sources - physics, philosophy forums through blogs. The video is 3 min long, shot with a DSLR camera, composed on Final Cut Pro.
//To what degree the project succeeded? & How could it fail?
The project could be considered as successful in visual matter. Even though there is certain research , the questions/ hypotheses remain open. There is sufficient lack of real commitment to a person with distorted sight. The missing file - or we still experience an actual necessity of concrete, even intimate contact with a real blind person. Maybe a conversation or discourse would lead to different approach. The final outcome or the video display is also subject of further determination.

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NOISY_BOXES

What & Why
[This project was developed as part of a workshop called “DIY Sound Objects” - a briefly introduction to working with Arduino board and low-tech sensors and actuators to develop autonomous sound objects, which react to the environment. Eventually three boxes were made out of polypropylene with the size of 30x30cm, situated at the space. They serve as an abstract sound outputs which allow a person to play with or modulate the sound and its main feature such as volume, frequency, intensity etc. in real time. The sound is in close correspondence to person’s behavior and the result could be simplified as experimental, annoying noise.
How
Two of the boxes were connected to distance sensors serving as sound implements. The third box produced noise, controlled by a lamp through a light sensor. All sensors were connected to the Arduino board where two potentiometers were used as an analog input. A Max/ MSP patch was developed to change the sound in correspondence to a person’s behavior. For instance, going closer or further away, waving your hands, increasing or decreasing the light would all trigger a response from the boxes.]
To what degree the project succeeded? & How could it fail?
The outcome of the workshop was satisfactory for the participants. It fulfilled most of my expectations as a simple intro of Arduino and the possibilities/ freedom of do - it – yourself, while playing or experimenting with it. It succeeded in its function. Despite the time limit and some of the technical gaps need to be consider, sound searches and sound behavior, in particular could have been developed/ explored further - out of the workshops' borders.]