[ISEA2011] Artist Statement: Kirsty Boyle – Tree Ceremony and Fragment

Artist Statement

Handcrafted in a range of different materials; robots represent an awareness of the relationship between the material, the ecological and the spiritual.

  • Kirsty Boyle is an Australian artist whose passion for robots has driven her to travel the world in order to work with other like-minded artist and scientists. Her practice is truly interdisciplinary, encompassing skills in sculpture, theatrical performance, film and animation, digital arts and design, mechanical and electrical engineering and artificial intelligence. During 2002, Kirsty began study under Mr Tamaya Shobei, a ninth generation Karakuri Ningyo craftsman and last remaining mechanical doll Master in Japan. She is currently his only student, and the only woman to have ever been trained in the tradition. Therefore, she is now considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on Karakuri. She has been based in Zurich for the past three years, completing an artist residency at the AI Lab, University of Zurich and is an active member of SGMK (Swiss Mechatronic Art Society). In 2010 she produced Tree Ceremony, commissioned by the Museum Tinguely and Kunsthaus Graz for the Robot Dreams exhibition, touring 2010 – 2011.

Full text and images (PDF) p.  244-247