Rotating

This is the first entry for a blog documenting a Research residency at La Trobe University Melbourne, exploring notions of active audience particpation in interactive projection environments. Notionally a year long Residency-it involves a five week physical residency at Bendigo in the heart of the Australian Goldfields. It is funded by Bath Spa University , particularly Artswork (a new centre of excellence for pedagogic research at Bath Spa University)

Curently in a spin preparing for the big trip-still struggling with pilot technology for a 360 degree rotating projector based on an automated camera head which can be programmed and controlled remotely. Technical development is by Cliff Randall of Bristol University Computing department, wearables laboratory and programmed by Anthony Head of Bath Spa University.


Residency proposal
Moving images – Hidden Histories

The exhibition is based on the concept of a moving projector, which tracks human presence through sensor technology and projects onto the walls of a space in synch with an audience member as they move within it. This technology is being developed in partnership with Cliff Randall of Bristol University Computing department, wearables laboratory.

I would hope to create hidden video scenes or vignettes based on my experiences of Place during the residency and their relation to the cultural history of Bendigo, which will be fleetingly revealed at different positions on the gallery walls triggered through the observer’s movement in the gallery space.

I would also wish to further research the possibility of installation in a gold mine and the funding of a larger project at a future date.

This builds on the concept behind my last few projects, which are documented on , where audience motion has triggered increasing degrees of intimacy (Understanding Echo) or moved the sound track from one screen to another (Triple Echo) or tracked the audience around a space, assigning a video character to an individual observer (Hosts).

My last commission for InVideo in Milan in November '06 was called Hidden Doors and was installed in a hotel room. The observer triggered video scenes through a virtual door which opens at random on moments from a couple’s time in the same room.

I will work informally with a small group of Visual Arts Honours students, sharing my skills and ideas during this project. I hope to collaborate in the filming and construction of the installation with the group during my residency.

I will also create regular blog documentation on my blogsite (www.mobileaudience.blogspot.com and www.roamedia.blogspot.com). This blog will give a venue and forum for work created during the residency. The blog will be updated regularly.

Finally, I am planning open studio work in progress sessions to discuss the ideas and technology behind the project. The public and media will all be invited to look and discuss the residency project and any work that is created.

Visual Support Material

Please visit: http://www.martinrieser.com