While SCANZ 2013 is called 3rd nature, it wasn't expected that so many works would engage with living plants, and this has become a distinct thread woven through the projects.
We are all aware of the strong element of environmental awareness in electronic art practice, which is the result of a number of forces ranging from personal perspective to the liberation of art from the gallery and a need for data. By 2012, this relationship to environment has well passed the prototype stage of tentative experimentation, and is in the developed stage of projects. Take for example 'Akousmaflore' by Scenocosme. This work has evolved over a period of years to go from the simple activation of audio by basic sensors, to a degree of instrumentation based on the speed and proximity of your hands to the plants. That allows for greater levels of play between audience and plants, and it is in the reflective period after engaging with the plants that a deeper level of understanding of the project occurs. What was initially play becomes a platform to reconsider our relationship to plants. Plants are usually viewed as static objects to be passively experienced. In' Akousmaflore' a dynamic is introduced, that involves acting with plants in non routine ways. It does not take much further reflection to then see that the project is pointing to considering in what ways humans are integrated with plants. That consideration opens up a range of ways we have relationships to plants, from digestion to psychedelics. We come to see that actually, humans and plants are very closely related. 'Akousmaflore' by Scenocosme (Grégory Lasserre & Anaïs met den Ancxt) will be exhibited as part of SCANZ 2013: 3rd nature at Puke Ariki. It is currently on show at ZKM. For more information go to http://www.scenocosme.com/akousmaflore_en.htm and http://www.intercreate.org/2012/06/akousmaflore/. Best Ian Clothier _______________________________________________ Ada_list mailing list [email protected] http://aotearoadigitalarts.org.nz/
