Extending the senses with digital technology

We assume that we can extend our senses, bodies and presence using digital technology and different kinds of media. We are in one location, and we are represented, mediated and/or translated into another space as well as the other space/person is translated, mediated and/or represented “back” to us.

Each media delivers a specific point of view, aspect, sense from the other space. However it is translated. Some of the meanings and the senses of the other space are left out. Smell, condensation, temperature can only be described, even sight and sound are restricted to speakers, screen or a point or few points that present the other space/person.

Physical performance, immersive performance and interactive performance are performances that design carefully the usage of all of the 5 senses of our body. In the space we are at, we experience 360 degrees. But when a remote space and/or person is remote the sense is limited to the translation. Have you ever tried to translate a phrase from one language to another?

Last month I have seen the performance “Lo Al Halehem Levado” (Not only on the bread). The play shared with the audience the way blind and deaf people experience the world. The audience needed to have translator to understand the sign language, and the blind actors needed assistance to move on stage, and the deaf needed assistant to hear the ques  and to hear what does the other actors say, or later on also to understand questions from the audience.

In a sense I understood that Telematic performances have something in common with the blind-deaf performance. Let’s introduce two places A and B. Jo, a performer, is in room A and Peter, another performer, is in room B.

Peter is mediated in room A let’s say with skype. I can argue that he is a ‘disabled’ performer in the room. In order to move in the space, he needs assistance which also means that  he relies on the technology that he has i.e speaker, screen, robot (that may help to move in the space) etc. The same thing happens to Jo but in room B. Following this ‘disability’ their interaction with the audience on both sites is also limited and dependent on the technology and the access the audience has to the technology.

Post workshop and TaPRA: Telematic Performance

The workshop took place in two places at the same time

London and Leicester.

Ximena was on Leicester and Frieda Winston and me were in London.

This time we focused on the voice and the sound. The question was how sound can merge the two places into one. Using our imagination we created a story that located us in an imaginative world. At first we closed our eyes, and then we did a similar exercise with our eyes open. We challenged our perception of space, of things that exist in the room and the possible interaction among us. We looked at the rules and the understanding that we need in order to bring these two places into one and all of us to share the same space. …

With the short time that we had few important things were emphasized :

1. Telematic interaction first of all requires that both sides would like to interact and connect. Otherwise each space will remain isolated.
2. The way we choose to mediate the other space is crucial to the quality and the dynamic between the two spaces. Off course from that we can say that the style of the interaction will determine the style of the performance and the ‘story’ that is being told.
3. There should be an explanation or an introduction of the rules that bring the two worlds together and the way they can interact with the other space using the allocated media.
4. Some aspects of the interaction between the two spaces requires imagination and letting go and accepting an imaginative world that is created from the two(or more) places. Like any other performance it requires their acceptance to this kind of engagement.
5. Because the connection between the places is mediated, it is the choice of the creator (and the technical team) to decide how each space will be mediated at the other location. This opens questions on the kind of the technology that is used and the conscious choice to the kind of translation or mediation that is used to connect one space into the other location.

The week following the workshop I presented few aspects at TaPRA conference in Kingston University. I had the great support from Kingston University and TaPRA and the presentation took place in 2 rooms.

At first we were in one room, I briefly explained the two workshops (Moving in Extended Spaces and Telematic Performance: connecting in Extended communities) that lead me to this point. And then we split into two groups, each group was in a different room.

It was amazing to see the playfulness that we have achieved. As in the last workshop we used Skype. The set up was as such that both group see the other from the front. I have stopped the video in the middle of the exercise, and as expected, the game was stopped. It took a while to kind of recover from the disruption, but still it was very difficult.

Something with this sense, The sight, is crucial to the interaction among the people. We can put it aside only after the world that is being created is strong enough and the participants established a relationship. Next month I’m going to see and experience a play created by a group of deaf and blind people. Maybe the way they interact should bring other insights.

Next Workshop – Telematic Performance: Connecting in Extended Communities

Heading to the next step, there is another workshop coming up.

The workshop will follow few of the findings and the questions that came up during “Moving in Extended Spaces”. This time the focus will be removed from the space awareness and movement and will be centered at communication channels and networking as a social structure that directs the connection and the communication between communities.

I ask: Using different technologies, how close a remote place and the people there really are? What kind of communication is made between the two places and the people?

I would like to examine the importance of sight as affirmation and confirmation of presence and connection between people and groups. I would like to find tools or means of connection with another group and place that digital technology brings us.

Call for Participants has been published. Deadline 27rd of Aug 2011

Future Plans

I have not updated the blog for a while. That because I am planing the next steps.  So here is a bit of my list…

• Still working on Be@Home. But looking to develop it into a live installation performance. Sara and I will also perform as part of the installation.
• I am working on a long-term project regarding Telematic Performances. The project will produce few short performances (work in progress works). The final production will utilize techniques, methods and technologies discovered during the short performances. I aim the final production to be an ongoing installation of 2-3 days or 1-1.5 hours performance [Please contact me to get involved]
• Follow up workshops – As follow-up to the workshop “Moving in Extended Spaces” I’m looking to create more workshops that will follow the findings and develop methods of devising Telematic Performances.
• TaPRA 2011 is on its way. I’m presenting a provocation called “The Domination of the Sight”. The provocation is based on the workshop “Moving in Extended Spaces”.
• Producing Israel-UK performance conference in 2012 – the aim is to create cultural exchange and promote new ways of international performance making using technologies that connect remote spaces and communities. [Please contact me for more info]

Be@Home

A week has past….

I don’t know exactly what to write to be honest.

I think it was generally good. I had interesting interactions and meeting with people.

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Approaching people in a pijama was very funny and people not necessarily were opened to that. The fact that it was in the middle of a market and there wasn’t any frame work of a festival frightened people. Some thought I’m crazy and even didn’t talk to me or just moved on when I said “Hi I’m doing an art project”. Its amazing how much the framework is important. When something is not “in its place” – people are suspicious.

It was great to see that the people who have listened to me and chose to come and engage with this project, found it very interesting, light and fun. From a suspicious/curious faces they became comfortable and light. Generally it received a positive feedback.

All was recorded online. I put my self on the frame when People didn’t want to be recorded on the camera. I have posted facebook statuses after every interaction.

Log in here to find look at the recordings. You are also welcome to log on to the facebook page in order to participate and contribute the live installation.

The thing that I struggle is with bringing awareness that people can participate online. It is not live enough online, there aren’t enough people who follow and comment on the things that are going on. And for me this is the main point and the thing that is mostly interested. People still think that you have to be physically present at “xxx” in order to participate and take part and it has to be certain times and hours. BUT what I try to do is “extend the space” extend the options of participation and engagement. It DOESN’T have to be a short amount of time. It can be longer. It also can continue and build up. I thought that facebook is an interesting place because you can post pictures, links and it can bring in a dialogue and something that is continuous regardless to the performance time. But it has to be maintained and people need this constant activity to keep it live.

Well, I’m not sure when will be the next Be@Home or where.. but this project will continue.

Be@Home – Almost there

Ok,

long day… mostly working on the flyer… that ended up with a spelling mistake. Ho well!!

too much of a hassle to change all of the uploads that I have made. And it is a small one anyway. At least I attach here the correct one… :)  Also I will print the right version….

So here we go-  Saturday we are going to be in Brixton at The Brick Box. We will broadcast and ask people what makes them feel like home. YES this is still the question. AND YES we will going to talk with people. Looking forward to find out what is it for the people in Brixton and how different it is from the people in Tooting the following day. It’s almost ready and set.

Be@Home – The process…

I came to Brixton Village Market now few times. The vibrant and relaxed atmosphere is great. This market is becoming more alive, and there are different kind of restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, vegetables.. all sorts of things that fits the Brixton mixed community.

Be@Home is an exploration of home. What is it? how specific is it? how different is it?

This time it seems to pursue a journalistic or perhaps an anthropological exploration rather then creating a dramatic or performative story that I would like to share. I think it became a little bit of an installation, a little bit of a performance and a little bit of journalistic search.

On the one hand I have mixed feelings about this development. The focus here is the people: the people in the market and the people online. Similar to the people moving in the street people  online are “moving”/surfing  from one site to another. Will I be able to “hook” them for a few moments and create an interaction with the people in the cafe or/and in the market?

Hopefully there will be another computer logged on from Tooting Broadway Market. Will people there interact with the people in Brixton? Will people would be interested and engaged that they will use their smart phone to connect and participate in the performance?

How interesting this act in the shop can be interesting considering it is live and sometimes it is hard to focus the camera, the light… and if I move the camera away of the screen, I can’t control well enough what I project. Can this be interesting?

Does it brings a similar approach to the Big Brother? a documentary? or perhaps because it is live, and allows the audience to have fairly easy access to respond and take part it brings a slightly different experience and engagement.

I have lots of questions … and time and making it happen will show us the results.

30 April – BE@HOME  is at The Brick Box in Village Market, facebook and livebroadcast

1 May – BE@HOME is at The Brick box in Tooting Broadway Market, facebook, and livebroadcast