blobhumans

BLOBDANCE: Blobhumans

Authors:
Isabel Valverde (BPD/FCT/MCES,IHSIS, VIMMI/INESC-ID)
Ana Moura Santos (Dep. Matemática/IST/UTL)
Jorge Gonçalves (Ballet Teatro, Dep. Dança, FMH/UTL)
António Fortes (Video editor, DROID ID)

Synopsis
Embodied interactions with and through computer generated 3d graphics (Blobs) from mathematical formulas open these interfaces to other creative applications. BlobDance experiments the BlobMaker (Bruno Araújo) multimodal possibilities towards expanding and grounding the body expressive potential through a hybrid (physical-virtual) performance platform.
A Digital Video Dance and Animation, Blobhumans is the last piece of this ongoing project. Started on 2006, we created hppt://blobdance.blogspot.com. A format in tune with the project's work process of critically and creatively adapting/familiarizing with the systems/devices, geared to the development of a dramaturgical approach instantiated through performance and the production of videos.
Blobhumans is about the process of transformation of the embodied interaction with the multimodal circuitry. It involves three performers, appearing as silluets, and several blobs relating with each other within an immersive space. Holding and moving laser pens, the performers draw lines tracing their movement and spatial path on that space. Blobs start to form and interact with each other. First seemingly autonomous, blobs and performers start to relate dynamic and spatially, creating situations that converge physical and virtual realities and beings. As the blobs gain human features, the performers start to approach blobs as they get into physical contact and move together.

Multimodal Systems (installed at Room J. L. Fernandes / Taguspark / IST)

Video Wall (12 distributed computers and video projectors with rear projection)
BlobMaker Application and voice and speech recognition (Bruno Araújo, MA IMMI/DEI/IST)
Laser Monitorization via infra-red (Ricardo Jota, Doutorando IMMI/DEI/IST)
Cambience Application (Rob Diaz iLab/University of Calgary, Canada)

Sponsors: IST/BPI

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• video
• dance
• technologies
• multimodal
• interfaces
• corporeality
• contact
• improvisation