[ISEA2016] Artists Talk: Ashley Lane, Bhakti Duran & Jinsil See — Sound Painting

Artists Statement

Abstract
After reading an article that stated the average viewer only spends 30 seconds in front of a work of art, Ashley Lane and Bhakti Duran set out to see if art could be designed to literally give viewers pause. Bhakti’s immersive sound work andAshley’s work on the impressionist animated painting come together to draw in viewers and encourage focused contemplation on the art at hand. After spending time with Sound Painting , participants have reported feeling “refreshed” and “relaxed”.

Project Description
Sound Painting combines an animated painting with 3D binaural audio to create a mixed media participatory installation. The binaural audio extends the flat projected painting into the space of the viewer, encompassing them in the world of the painting. The magnetic pull of oceanic sounds draw the viewer in and the subtle movements of the painting gently entice the viewer to stay. In Figure I, you can see the relationship of the viewer and the projected painting. The movement of the painting is not immediately perceptible, but those who spend time with the painting are rewarded with its secrets. Sound Painting has been called “very calming and relaxing” and “refreshing” by many participants. Indeed, Sound Painting seems to have an uncanny ability to imbue a meditative-like state of stillness and mental focus in its participants.

  • Ashley Lane is an artist from Texas, USA, who enjoys working in various media, including digital painting, video, and animation. Her loves of impressionism and cinema have been major sources of inspiration for several of her works. In 2014, she earned her B.S. in Visualization from Texas A&M University. Ashley is currently studying to obtain her master’s degree from the same program.
  • Bhakti Duran is a Dominican-American artist born in New York City, USA. Through his work, he explores how 3D binaural audio can be combined with various mediums to foster better audience immersion. His work seeks to not only immerse the audience in the story but to also generate a profound sense of emotional resonance. Bhakti is currently studying to obtain his master’s degree from Texas A&M University, where he hopes to contribute to immersive storytelling.
  • Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo is an interactive artist/researcher focusing on aesthetics of interactive experience. Currently she is an assistant professor in the Department of Visualization at the College of Architecture and a faculty fellow in the Center for Health Systems & Design at Texas A&M University, USA. Seo received a Ph.D. in Interactive Art and Technology from Simon Fraser University in Canada and an MFA in Computer Arts from School of Visual Arts (SVA). With interdisciplinary, interactive art practice, Seo investigates the intersection between body, nature and technology. Seo has been fascinated by the aesthetic qualities of human experience, the relationships that emerge through interactions within artworks, the underlying beauty and pattern inherent in the nature. Her current research concentrates on designing for tangible and kinetic aesthetics in the contexts of performance, child development and health. Seo has chosen interactive art for her creative practice and research in particular as it encourages immersive and embodied relationships within a work of art.

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