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The Shilpa Gupta Exhibit at FACT
is an interactive 'environment' piece incorporating sound and music. In
it, individuals get to interact via a device similar to a motion sensor
which detects the individual's movement. The person's shadow is projected
on the screen in front of them, and the piece interacts with the user by
detecting which part of the 'canvas' the silhouette currently occupies.
For example, moving over to a particular area might trigger a small
animation to appear on the screen in front of them. |
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The piece is unique from the other examples
analysed in this project in that the individual physically interacts with
it using their whole body, which is 'superimposed' into the piece.
Although Noodlebox and
Blindrom offer interactivity, it is mainly mouse-controlled. This
individuality lends itself to the revolutionist ethic of
Fluxus, which embraces new and modern methods of
communication and seeks to exploit them in a playful and experimental
manner. |
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The piece aims to 'bridge Liverpool and
Mumbai'. As a result, there are many aspects of both cultures present in
the piece. Liverpool's geographical position by the sea is represented by
waves gushing by the individual's feet and the sight and sound of seagulls
which seem to fly from the individual's shadow. Also, a silhouette of a
small girl 'speaks to you' in Indian and dances around the shadows of the
people within the installation. It almost seems as if the piece is
'reacting' to the individual's movements.
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This application of culture to a 'performance'
style piece can be seen in the LIGNA piece, though
here it is treated in a different way. Rather than attempting to challenge
the way we think, so to speak, the Gupta exhibition chooses simply to
reflect culture and the similarities between them - in this case,
Liverpool and Mumbai. |
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There is also a tangible collaborative
element, which, although not an integral part of it, affects the outcome
of the piece nonetheless. The intensity of the animations seem to increase
when other people enter the interaction area - the seagulls become more
numerous, the girl takes the time to dance around each person in the
installation, the waves become more frequent.
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In some ways, this can be related to the
presence of a two player option in Pong: it is not
a requirement but for the full effect of the piece to become evident more
than one individual should in participation. |
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Interactivity and play are central elements to
the exhibit. There is, however, a set 'path' for the individual to travel
through which plays constantly on a loop. This is similar to
Noodlebox and to an extent
Blindrom in the fact that there are set
'scenarios', though there is no linking navigational screen. |
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See also |
- LIGNA Performance
- Cultural reference and social commentary.
- Pong - Presence
of more than one individual to gain full effect of the piece.
- Noodlebox -
Interaction in a semi-linear fashion.
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External Links |
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