Observer Observed 1994
Working with computers as a creative medium within the sphere of installation and time-based art has enabled me to explore ways of expressing and communicating my ideas, in particular a number of concerns central to "interactivity" and direct communication between "art object" and viewer.
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I wanted to enable the viewer to become a direct participant and partly responsible for the "intelligent" response and evolution of the artwork and to this end I have been using this medium in a number of ways: within three dimensional sculpture as control and interactive information gathering systems; as simulation artworks both 2D and 3D; for computer animation and within interactive "real-time" installations. Observer-Observed is just one of these avenues of exploration.
General Description
"...Narcissus came upon a spring, clear as silver, and as he cast himself down, exhausted, on the grassy verge to slake his thirst, he fell in love with his reflection, gazing enraptured into the pool." Greek myths - Robert Graves.
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The central concept of this interactive installation is loosely related to the Narcissistic myth, updated to the technological age and engages us in our fascination for the reflected "self-image". The participant's image is reflected and processed within the video "pool" and at the same time becoming the 'Observer, Observed'. As well as engaging our concerns with the "self" the piece has sinister undertones, a contemporary reflection of the "surveillance society".
Installation Description
The installation is intended to be divided into two parts and consists of the main structure as described in the technical description, a video link to a remote video monitor and/or projector in another part of the installation.
The work is intended to operate within low level light conditions. It is also a continually evolving and adaptive work in the sense that each installation is intended to be different and responsive to individual sites.
In its current development, video imagery from the camera source is processed and manipulated in 'real-time' and in response to the actions of the viewer/participants and projected within the installation space.
Technical Description
The main structure itself is approximately 6 ft. high by 2 ft. wide and 2 ft. deep and the body of the structure is supported by aluminium alloy tube.
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The structure contains a number of liquid crystal, colour displays, a miniature servo controlled ccd colour camera, ultra-sonic sensors, servo-motors and micro-computer together with video distribution amplifiers and secondary electronics.
The camera and sensors move left-right, up-down independently of the main structure, and are programmed to track the movements of a person within a certain range of the structure. The top of the whole structure also moves from left to right through approximately 190 degrees.
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A Scorpion micro-computer controls the servo-motors, ultrasonic tracking system and processing and switching of the video images.