Thesis Proposal

I: The Edge by Supercompact Wormhole Propulsion is a collaborative Interactive Mixed Media Installation, comprised of a sculptural component, a video component, and an audio component. Skyfish-- the artist collective of Mac Pepler, Lucas Thurston and Steven Wright-- explores the relationship between technology and humanity within a contemporary context; I: The Edge by Supercompact Wormhole Propulsion probes the beauty and harms of humanity’s growing dependence upon technology. The primary visual element consists of life-sized sculptures (created by Steven Wright), enhanced by both video screens and iPads (content created by Mac Pepler). The primary audio element, comprising two kiosks with headphones, will provide immediate access to the concept album (created by Lucas Thurston) which informs the entire piece; audio CD’s will also be provided for individuals to take with them.

The album combines the use of analog and digital synthesizers through a conceptual, ambient soundscape; in other words, the album is itself an exploration of our travels into the digital world. Influences for the music include Brian Eno (for his pioneering ambient work), La Monte Young (for his textural drones), Aphex Twin (for his mathematical drum programming), and Cluster (for their electronic soundscapes). The synth instruments--producing all esoteric sounds--will be created using Digital Audio Workstations, namely, Protools and Ableton Live, in addition to programs such as Pure Data and Processing. The music will feature drones, echoing chords, crackling drums, deep bass, and reverb to symbolize the infinite space surrounding the crew; using digitally processed acoustic instruments allows us to further explore the balance of the analog and digital. We will draw further influence from North American folk and jazz music to vocalize the crew, while samples will be taken from 1950s science fiction films and other sources. 

The video installations explore the technological evolution of society, presuming surveillance via digital connectivity are inherent to the system. We are using video as the primary means of content delivery; its place in history as one of the most prolific forms of information dissemination is undeniable. The sub-context of the video is a mixture of Closed Circuit Surveillance Footage and News footage: the video will be broken into nine pieces located throughout the gallery (see attached plot outline). In conjunction with the Narrative created to inform the gallery space, this component will be created to appear as a slightly malfunctioning video screen as though the information is accidentally filtering in from the outside. 

The sculptures will draw upon the progression towards a post-human society to explore the meaning of being human; constructed to mirror human form, they will transform over time. They will also serve as the physical manifestation of the crew from the concept album. The first sculpture will mime Da Vinci’s Vetruvian Man, the embodiment of human perfection. Constructed entirely from winterstone, it will be solid and white. This first sculpture will also take influence from the contrapposto nature of greek sculpture; his pose will welcome viewers to the space around him. He is to symbolize the last bastion of human perfection at the dawn of the technological revolution. He will be equipped with touch and infrared sensors in his hands to detect the presence of viewers. The touch sensors will enable him to speak to the viewers about his journey towards the edge of the universe. This will be pre-recorded dialogue. 

The second sculpture depicts humanity’s conflicted relationship with technology: the sculpture comprise of two human forms embracing in a dance-like pose. The figures will be made of the same winterstone material, but will, however, be augmented with metallic spaces resembling the human skeletal systems. These sculptures will take photographic information from the video installation and project it onto the face of one sculpture. This dance represents the surgery we will inflict upon our bodies as we endlessly augment ourselves.

The final sculpture will be entirely augmented with technology showing the birth and culmination of the post-human state. The sculpture’s outstretched arms will be clasping at its head; this will display its turmoil as its body is forced to endure the loss of human identity, forever trapped in a technologically driven cultural loop, reliving its most painful moments. Indeed, the loss of its humanity nonetheless is enacted as an attempt to memorize what humanity once was. The technological loop will be demonstrated by the self generated video feedback loop emanating from the sculpture’s mouth.

We hope to create an experience that fosters the development of new ideas, while critiquing our relationship to technology. This piece will provide a forum for the viewer to contemplate their own dependent relationship with technology and the nature of our being through the use of cutting edge technology. 

I: The Edge by Supercompact Wormhole Propulsion explores human fallibility in our constant pursuit of physical and mental perfection. We seek mastery of our own flesh; new technology gives us elements of control only dreamed of in science fiction. Humanity has an interdependent relationship with technology; our installation will convey this in detail using interactive video to draw the observer into the world of the concept album, a bleak totalitarian world governed by the pursuit of knowledge and perfection. The sculpture tangibly convey the progression of this world, giving the audience a chance to interact with moments transpiring within the world of the concept album. The installation informs the viewer about the dangers of a future that has yet to occur by exploring how our dependency upon technology could lead us to discard our own humanity. Every facet of I: The Edge by Supercompact Wormhole Propulsion has been constructed to represent and allow the viewer to interact first-hand with the concept of a bio-technical sub-culture.

The project will require 11 iPads for video and audio playback. The convenient form factor for the iPad makes it perfect for this application. The iPads will also be connected to infrared sensor-equipped Arduino micro-processors. This is to allow the pieces to sense the presence of an observer. The iPads will require two sets of headphones. The sculptures will require PICO projectors and infrared sensors, as well as Arduinos to control LEDs and trigger audio playback. Additionally, touch sensors will be placed in the hands of one sculpture, while the final sculpture will use a video camera to connect to its projector, creating a feedback loop. The technological requirements for the album range from traditional audio editing software to a wide array of microphones and amplifiers. The nature of the music is experimental, as such the total technical requirements cannot be recorded as of yet. In addition, there will be directional speakers placed above the sculpture to play the final track from the concept album.

We are all regimented and dedicated workers but as is the nature of all work there are overlapping skills and individual strengths. Lucas is a highly skilled programmer and musician, however he is not a practiced filmmaker and he has fewer fabrication skills. Mac is a very skilled filmmaker and fabricator, is a proficient audio engineer, but is a less proficient programmer. Steve is a very skilled sculptor and artist, has a great deal of practice with audio recording and filmmaking, but is a less proficient programmer. Knowing our strengths and weaknesses going into this project allowed us to structure the work to maximize our diverse skill sets, while minimizing the difficult programming to concentrate upon physical interaction. 

In the piece I: The Edge by Supercompact Wormhole Propulsion we explore our relationship with technology and the dependencies that develop therein, using interactive sculpture and video to articulate the story flowing within the concept album. The viewer will experience first and second hand accounts of life in this world, finally being exposed to the music that informs the entire piece. Video screens located around the gallery will lead the viewer around the space, guiding them toward the sculptures. Spaced a few feet apart, leading across the floor and projecting onto the wall, the sculptures will stand tall waiting for the viewer’s approach. Our society’s rapidly growing dependence upon technology is already so prevalent that it is necessity for us to convey our message via technology; however, knowledge is empowerment.