[spectre] Thursday Club, 5th March: Arthur Elsenaar

[alex]

Free, all welcome.

Programmed and Organised by the Goldsmiths Digital Studios.
Supported by the Goldsmiths Graduate School and the Department of
Computing. 


ARTHUR ELSENAAR

Date: Thursday 5 March 2009
Location: Seminar Rooms, ground floor, Ben Pimlott Building, 
          Goldsmiths College
          http://www.gold.ac.uk/find-us/
Time: 18:00 - 20:00

Controlling the human face by a computer instead of the brain can make
the face perform in unexpected and often surprising ways. In his
current PhD research Arthur is investigating the fundamentals that
constitute the computer-controlled face as a medium for algorithmic
kinetic art. Humans normally use their faces in a limited way although
their facial hardware allows for an enormous range of possible facial
patterns. This range of patterns, referred to as 'face-space', is huge
and largely unexplored. The level of control that digital technologies
can offer allows for a systematic exploration of 'face-space'. The
research presented systematically explores this by applying algorithms
to map out sections of this space.

Controlling the human face by computer clearly shows that biological
entities can perform in a different and much more consistent way than
when control is left to its biological counterpart, the brain. Digital
control of biological entities points to a post-biological future
reminiscent of the wildest cyborgian dreams. But the research here
does not alter, change or embed elements/parts in the human body; it
merely changes its control scheme.

ARTHUR ELSENAAR dropped out of electrical engineering due to his heavy
involvement in the '80s pirate radio and TV scene, when he operated an
illegal radio station and built radio-transmitters for many pirate
stations around the Netherlands. He graduated the Fine Art Academy
Minerva (Netherlands) in 1993, where he developed radar-controlled
interactive sculptures. Since then he investigates the artistic
possibilities of the computer-controlled human face. His award-winning
work has been presented throughout Europe and USA. He is currently a
PhD candidate at the School of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent
University.

Programmed and Organised by Goldsmiths Digital Studios.  Supported by
Goldsmiths Graduate School & Department of Computing.

http://thethursdayclub.net/