Comments on: Talk at iMal in Brussels http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/ mind/tech bazar from outer space Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:56:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.1 By: Tony Dunne http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-450053 Tony Dunne Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:24:58 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-450053 I agree with Julian, I think it's really great when you come across devices that offer content you'd expect to find in the art world presented through 'finished' devices that look like they could be bought in muji or argos. They point towards a parallel world, superficially similiar to ours (industrial, consumer, etc), but embodying a different view of human need and teh role mass produced objects could play meeting those needs. At the same time though, I think it's important to avoid parody and pastiche, it makes it too easy for the viewer and it can be a bit of a cop out from a design point of view... I agree with Julian, I think it’s really great when you come across devices that offer content you’d expect to find in the art world presented through ‘finished’ devices that look like they could be bought in muji or argos. They point towards a parallel world, superficially similiar to ours (industrial, consumer, etc), but embodying a different view of human need and teh role mass produced objects could play meeting those needs. At the same time though, I think it’s important to avoid parody and pastiche, it makes it too easy for the viewer and it can be a bit of a cop out from a design point of view…

]]> By: Julian Bleecker http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-450041 Julian Bleecker Fri, 14 Dec 2007 09:12:11 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-450041 I agree with Chris, despite what I've said in the past. I guess I"m eager for "finish" in device art — things that look like they "could be" because they have a finish to them that you usually see in manufactured devices. So, at least for me, part of the aesthetics is creating candy for the imagination, to make things that suggest other possible future worlds with these peculiar, unusual, thought-provoking devices. I agree with Chris, despite what I’ve said in the past. I guess I”m eager for “finish” in device art — things that look like they “could be” because they have a finish to them that you usually see in manufactured devices. So, at least for me, part of the aesthetics is creating candy for the imagination, to make things that suggest other possible future worlds with these peculiar, unusual, thought-provoking devices.

]]> By: Putting people first http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-449832 Putting people first Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:32:59 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-449832 <strong>Device art as a resource for interaction design and media art...</strong> Nicolas Nova, user experience and foresight researcher working at the Media and Design Lab (EPFL) and at the near future laboratory, is currently in Brussels where he gave a talk yesterday at iMal, a brand new center for digital cultures and technol... Device art as a resource for interaction design and media art…

Nicolas Nova, user experience and foresight researcher working at the Media and Design Lab (EPFL) and at the near future laboratory, is currently in Brussels where he gave a talk yesterday at iMal, a brand new center for digital cultures and technol…

]]> By: Chris http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-449826 Chris Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:04:38 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-449826 Great stuff, and your slides bear such a resemblence to my own inspirations and examples I usually show that it's a good job I wasn't also presenting after you or I would've been in big trouble! ;-) I wanted to pick up this point (from Julian) about Device Art: "Constructing an object that looks as thought it might be a mass-manufactured consumer object — perhaps because it has the finish of a mass-manufactured object, or it is designed for manufacturability." I don't see this as being *necessary* for Device Art, although it is one symptom of work by Mawya Denki (and Ryota Kuwakubo) because he presents himself as a corporation and works within a sphere that actually intersects the commercial world -- you can actually buy mass-produced versions of the works. And of course one of the problems we have right now when we want to talk about Device Art is that there are not so many examples to look at. But I see this engagement with mass production as an *aesthetic* decision as well as one of process.... I don't see why someone couldn't be making Device Art in the form of one-offs, regardless of whether that means hand-crafting objects or using industrial processes such as laser cutting and 3D printing. Also whether or not the aesthetics of the artist results in an object which enters into or subverts consumer electronics is their choice, an aesthetic choice. I think it's the exploration of the aesthetics of electronics and devices that makes device art interesting, and I would be excited to see more radical experimentation. (OK I'll stop before this turns into an essay) Chris ps: love the CCTV photo in Placa de George Orwell! Great stuff, and your slides bear such a resemblence to my own inspirations and examples I usually show that it’s a good job I wasn’t also presenting after you or I would’ve been in big trouble! ;-)

I wanted to pick up this point (from Julian) about Device Art: “Constructing an object that looks as thought it might be a mass-manufactured consumer object — perhaps because it has the finish of a mass-manufactured object, or it is designed for manufacturability.”

I don’t see this as being *necessary* for Device Art, although it is one symptom of work by Mawya Denki (and Ryota Kuwakubo) because he presents himself as a corporation and works within a sphere that actually intersects the commercial world — you can actually buy mass-produced versions of the works. And of course one of the problems we have right now when we want to talk about Device Art is that there are not so many examples to look at.

But I see this engagement with mass production as an *aesthetic* decision as well as one of process…. I don’t see why someone couldn’t be making Device Art in the form of one-offs, regardless of whether that means hand-crafting objects or using industrial processes such as laser cutting and 3D printing. Also whether or not the aesthetics of the artist results in an object which enters into or subverts consumer electronics is their choice, an aesthetic choice. I think it’s the exploration of the aesthetics of electronics and devices that makes device art interesting, and I would be excited to see more radical experimentation.

(OK I’ll stop before this turns into an essay)

Chris

ps: love the CCTV photo in Placa de George Orwell!

]]> By: In Traction » Blog Archive » Missed a talk by Nicolas Nova in Brussels http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-449822 In Traction » Blog Archive » Missed a talk by Nicolas Nova in Brussels Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:16:15 +0000 http://liftlab.com/think/nova/2007/12/12/talk-at-imal-in-brussels/#comment-449822 [...] found out a bit too late that Nicolas Nova would be giving a talk at iMAL in Brussels yesterday. Luckily he always puts his slides [...] […] found out a bit too late that Nicolas Nova would be giving a talk at iMAL in Brussels yesterday. Luckily he always puts his slides […]

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