[ISEA2015] Artist Statement: Raivo Kelomees — Conceptualization of audience participation in interactive documentary

Artist Statement

Keywords: interactive documentary, audience participation, experimental documentary

Interactive documentary presentation. The interactive film “The East” brings out contrasts of North-East part of Estonia, which is industrial zone of the country with its picturesque nature, grim and beautiful landscapes and stories of the people living there. Audience should choose between 4 videos “in-waiting”. During last 20 second of the each clip appears a bar, which indicates selection period. In the same time number of choices made is projected onto image. After choosing time is over, new clip is projected to dominant position. Selection of clips is happening without interruption of the flow of main video.
We have done one experimental public presentation with individual interfaces for audience what we are going to update. Still there is possible make some conclusions and describe participatory experience of the project. Interface of the documentary is designed with Max/MSP. kelomees.net/east.html

  • Raivo Kelomees PhD (art history), artist, critic and new media researcher. Studied psychology, art history, and design in Tartu University and the Academy of Arts in Tallinn, Estonia. Book author, “Surrealism” (Kunst Publishers, 1993) and an article collections “Screen as a Membrane” (Tartu Art College proceedings, 2007), “Social Games in Art Space” (Estonian Academy of Arts/EAA, 2013). Doctoral thesis „Postmateriality in Art. Indeterministic Art Practices and Non-Material Art“ (EAA, 2009). Participation in festivals, exhibitions, conferences: Second International Video and Electronic Art Manifestation in Montreal 1995; French-Baltic-Nordic Video and Electronic Art Festival, Riga 1997; 20th Tokyo Video Festival, 1998; MuuMediaFestival in Helsinki (1998); Ars Electronica Mediathek, Linz (1999); 4th International Festival of New Film, Split (1999); ISEA2000 (Paris); Viper 2000 (Basel); ISEA2002 (Nagoya); FILE 2005 (Sao Paolo); Media Forum at the Moscow International Film Festival, 2006; Fluxus East, Kumu Art Museum, 2008 (Tallinn), ISEA2010 Istanbul, ISEA2014 Dubai etc. kelomees.net