Material Expressions No. 2

biometric performance with motorized sculpture and sound actuated by heartbeat of knitter
Artwork

Material Expressions No. 2

2016
durational performance with motor, yarn, mixed media, electromyography (EMG) sensors, microcontroller, midi synthesized sound, Isadora
performance duration and dimensions variable

Material Expressions No. 2 is a durational performance with biometrically activated motorized sculpture and sound. Electromyography (EMG) electrodes attached to the chest of the knitter trigger sounds in a MIDI synthesizer with each beat of the performer's heart. The heartbeat simultaneously actuates a motor to unravel the scarf being continuously knit during the performance.

Material Expressions No. 2 is a durational performance with biometrically activated motorized sculpture and sound. Electromyography (EMG) electrodes attached to the chest of the knitter trigger sounds in a MIDI synthesizer with each beat of the performer's heart. The heartbeat simultaneously actuates a motor to unravel the scarf being continuously knit during the performance.

Surface Design Journal

…The exigent urgency of Laura Splan’s conceptual work always feels one step ahead of us, much the way technology, which she employs to execute and symbolically illuminate her concepts, exists long before it is grasped by the masses…

Subnet AIR Salzburg
Center for HCI
Troikatronix: Isadora
Schmiede Hallein
Harvestworks

Project support provided by subnetAIR, Schmiede, The Center for Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Salzburg, Harvestworks

Durational Performances include Harvestworks TEAM Lab on Governors Island

Special thanks to Mark Coniglio of TroikaTronix