Threads - Pt IV - Immersive Art

Immersive Art

Gus the Theatre Cat

This project was part of an investigation into media convergence and immersion in art. For those who aren't familiar with the term, consider this. A tablet, or a computer, is an example of where media convergence has happened. 

If, before tablets and computers, you wanted someone to experience photographs and music together, you would've had to supply prints and a cd. Now, you can hand them a tablet and they can experience the two art forms together. Since this has been possible, the two art forms have further influenced each other, and new art forms such as photo slideshows have emerged.

I can highly recommend this book, 'The Art of Immersion' by Frank Rose. I happened across it in the Bristol Museum & Gallery book shop and was engrossed on the coach trip home.

"The role of the broadcaster is not just to speak but to listen; the role of the audience is not just to listen but to speak. The Art of Immersion is about why this is happening, and where it will take us from here"

Frank Rose, 2011

Throughout the book, Rose details a variety of interactive experiences including Gallery Exhibitions, websites, games, films, advertising, and more. His attraction to large-scale, inclusive storytelling that transcends platforms was of particular inspiration when considering the future of photography.

You may wonder how the above flash animation fits in with this investigation. Well, it depends on how it is viewed. The video below shows how the final video was intended to be displayed. The video is made up of layers, inspired by Victorian paper theatres. Using a webcam and face-tracking API with Max/MSP, the layers of video moved in relation to each other and to your face. After some experimentation, it became apparent the best results came from moving the screen, with the face in a stationary position. 

Just the other day, I was excited to stumble across a tutorial for making 'Interactive Parallax Illustrations' using Procreate and HTML. Apart from the background on my iPhone, I hadn't really seen this effect anywhere before. You can move the image around using your mouse, or it can make use of the gyroscope in your phone or tablet. I found it quite thrilling that something I'd hashed together in 2013 was now available in your browser and making use of technology that's now widely available.

Dissertation

My experiments with photography and media convergence were not well received by my lecturers, one tutor commenting, "This is not art, Heather, this is entertainment". This attitude perplexed me. Every week, we would sit in the lecture theatre and regale the 'photographers of old', particularly at those considered "boundary-pushers". 

Each time my investigations strayed to the borders of photography, I felt I was scolded for it. I asked for explanations, I received non. I became obsessed with trying to understand, not only because it was derailing my entire third-year project, but because I felt like there was some kind of bigger picture to it.

My curiosity formulated the title of my dissertation which, I'd like to add, was awarded much higher marks than any of the rest of my third-year work. If you fancy it, you can find a copy of my dissertation below (apologies for the flashy link, I didn't feel ready to pay the subscription to issuu for an embedded copy).