Poster Statement

Keywords: Biomorphism, Texture, Interactivity, Consent, Sculpture, Motion, Emergence, Otherness

Abstract

Getting Together is an interactive electronic sculptural experiment in wireless social interaction, applying biomorphic textures to fabric, and emergence by failure. The work consists of several tentacles, which imitate, both in texture, and motion, living beings. They may coil away, out of reach, as the audience interacts with them. Originally, the work was a negotiation between the audience at large, and one audience member whose body was electronically connected to the sculpture. Touches to the sculpture were transferred to the person. The interface wearer, reacting to their situation, could cause the tentacles to coil away. This work changed over time, technical issues giving a new kind of biomorphism to the machine. Breaking free from an audience-driven motion, the tentacles developed their own independent, fearful consciousness. Now, rather than question the audience’s physical interactions with itself, the work questioned the audience’s interactions with this strange new entity, and by extension, questioned their interactions with “outsiders” in general.

• Kathrine Hardman is a senior at the University of Washington studying Interdisciplinary Visual Arts with a minor in DXARTS. Her primary interests are in queer art, and experimental interactive sculpture (art machines). Sexuality, and physical audience contact with her work are consistent themes. She recently had work appear in Machines of Becoming at The Grocery in North Beacon Hill, Seattle. She is transgender and proud.

Full text (PDF) p. 628-629

Thanks to everyone in the DXARTS program at UW, and in particular, my fellow students in DXARTS 472: Spencer Bowen, Chanhee Choi, Brenna Gera, Stevie Koepp, Will Perry, and Maxx Yamasaki. Most importantly, I must thank Afroditi Psarra and Cameron Frasier for teaching me everything I know about electronics, and arranging Machines of Becoming, where GT debuted. Thanks also to the good people at The Grocery: Janet Galore and Demi Raven, and their many friends who came along to help set up. I couldn’t have come this far without all of your wisdom, and hard work.