13 July 2009

Double international exhibition for Dundee lecturer

An interactive installation created by a lecturer from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design will go on display in Poland later this year, its second international exhibition of the year.

Professor Nigel Johnson earlier this year created his installation, entitled ‘Moments’, for the parallel programme of the Thessaloniki Biennale in Greece as part of e-MobiLArt, a one-year collaborative research project.

Professor Johnson, Chair of Interactive Arts at the College - part of the University of Dundee - worked on the installation in conjunction with fellow interactive artists, Dave Lawrence and Duke Albada. It will now be exhibited at the Academy of Fine Arts, Katowice, Poland in September and October 2009.

The Greek exhibition, which took place in May and June, featured 11 interactive and participatory installations by artists interested the creative collaborative process and the ways in which art, science and technology intersect. The artworks used interactive media, ubiquitous computing, communication networks, mobile and locative media technologies.

Using water imagery, sound and computer technologies, Moments functions by invoking meditative moments or contemplative states, representative of those attained through 'Scrying' techniques.

'Scrying' or 'Divination’ is a practice that manifests itself across numerous cultures, ideologies and belief systems, and involves obtaining visions, revelations or spiritual enlightenment through conscious and subconscious thoughts.

By looking into the Moments installation, the viewer sees their own reflections revealed, captured and manipulated, drifting in and out, merged with past viewers interactions and imagery. Where the viewer is receptive, it heightens their state of consciousness and creates momentary spaces for contemplation.

Professor Johnson said, 'The rare opportunity to work collaboratively with other artists and scientists from around the world, on potentially risky explorations has led to some critical, artistic innovations.'

'These collaborations have been extremely challenging but have resulted in some rewarding and thought provoking installations and research.'

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