Interactive Media
June 17th, 2011
Digital Self #1
Digital Self is a project that I undertook for the EM[BODY]MENT Exhibition at the Arts University College at Bournemouth.
The main idea with Digital Self#1 was to create a digital and Interactive artwork that responded in real time one to one motion
with the viewer/user. This work was produced in response to a brief set by the curators of the EM[BODY]MENT exhibition,
whose goal was to host an exhibition of artists work that varied as widely as possible in terms of the mediums used for production
while at the same time all work shown was produced in response to the theme or idea of the human body.
Digital Self # 1 was created using the Microsoft Kinect Camera and the software/application Processing with a little help from the
source libraries (that make Processing talk to the Kinect Camera) produced by Daniel Shiffman. To find out more about the EM[BODY]MENT exhibition and the other artists who were involved click the EM[BODY]MENT logo below.
![EM[BODY]MENT event](http://www.mathewbrewer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/E-M-B-O-D-Y-M-E-N-T1.png "E M [B O D Y] M E N T")
Digital Self # 1
![Digital Self #1 @ EM[BODY]MENT](http://www.mathewbrewer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/DS1pic1.jpg "Digital Self #1")
Artist Statement:Mathew Brewer
As an artist I am quite selfish in that my work is predominantly produced for my own personal enjoyment. My main goal is to produce imagery, which is an abstraction of the body and mind, an abstract of the human condition. I try to distil aspects of the body and mind to their most simplistic and I aspire to convey that through combining equally simplistic shapes, a dichotomy of simple shapes conveying complex ideas.
Through the course of my work I begin with an idea, which generally is drawn from my experience of people, and the world on my own terms and then attempt to figure out what the essence of the idea is that I am attempting to convey. My default setting is to turn to the process of doodling and drawing cartoons in order to visualise what I am thinking at this point. This is generally an entirely non-digital process involving simple items such as a pencil and some paper. If as a result of this process I fell that this is not enough I consider digital processes which could at least on the surface of things produce a simplified more distilled visual representation of my core idea.
With the project Digital Self # 1 for the EM[BODY]MENT exhibition I decided to further my exploration of entirely digital work, removing the use of traditional non-digital techniques entirely. It was my goal to produce a work that embodies the viewer, so that for a fleeting moment they are the work. I am trying to encapsulate the idea that everything is fleeting, from the simple moment of looking at the work itself right up to the much grander idea of our very existence.
Digital Self # 1 only works when there is someone to view it just as those who exist can only know existence.
Can something exist without being perceived?
Video Montage of alternate looks that can be achieved with the current code for Digital Self.
Appraisal
From: EM[BODY]MENT
To: Mathew Brewer (Digital Self)
Mat has been a pleasure to work with over the past few months with his piece ‘Digital Self’ fitting really well with our brief. His commitment to the project and time spent on the work was exceptional. He has made communication throughout the project trouble-free and was always present and on time to project meetings. His artist statement complimented the piece well and explained its context successfully. The work submitted by Mat received many positive comments and was a great success in the exhibition, prompting second looks by every passer by. After receiving some interest from South West Dance we hope Mat can successfully develop this work in the future and we would not hesitate to work with him again.
Regards,
The EM[BODY]MENT Team
info@embodymentevent.com
Photo’s from the Gala Evening Thursday 12th May 2011
Digital Self #1 Artist Statement at the exhibition
Digital Self #1 Action Shot One at the exhibition
EM[BODY]MENT the exhibition at the AUCB Gallery
Digital Self #1 Close Up Shot One at the exhibition
Digital Self #1 + Mathew Brewer at the exhibition
Digital Self #1 + Mathew Brewer/Action Shot at the exhibition
Final Concept
The interactive element that comes into play when using the kinect to create a 3D abstraction of the individual viewers form works perfectly with this idea. This mainly down to the way I have reduced the number of cubes that make the body of the viewer up down as far as was possible whilst still retaining the general shape of the body while losing the intricacies such as flowing hair, or individual fingers.
With Digital Self #1 I intend to create an abstraction of the human form which creates a personally specific experience to each individual. While at the same time making them consider what it is that makes them who they are, are a collection of black and white cubes that fit there specific form the same as them?
It is important that Digital Self #1 is not seen as just a pretty motion graphic but that it actually makes you consider yourself, even just for that brief moment when you take the time to stop and play infront of it. To experience yourself on an abstract level and to be unsure if the cubes are you or not.
In modern society so many people live there life in a cube, be that an office or the bus they travel to work in, or there front room every evening sitting infront of the most watched cube of all, TV. Cubes were the perfect choice of shape in this abstraction of form. Do peoples surroundings make them who they are? More importantly do they even care?
Digital Self is a comment on peoples tendency to place themselves and others around them into neat little cubes/boxes.
