 Title
Artist |
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 MOVEMENT |
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Synopsis
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Paragraphie
is
an interactive installation that interprets the rhythm and musicality
of a writer’s gestures rather than the sense of what it written.
A chair, a table, some paper and pencils are available for the
visitor’s use. To activate the interactive device, one must
get down to work: write, draw, scribble, tear, rub, tap... Microphones
inserted in the table and amplified in the whole gallery space
pick up the sounds generated by the viewer’s actions. Depending
on their amplitude, these sounds trigger different video loops
that are projected directly onto the table. Virtual hands appear
on the writing surface, suggesting actions and leaving traces
that are superimposed on those of the participant. This situation
explores physical and mental attitudes that often accompany the
writing process: a place of frustration and pleasure, communication
and withdrawal into oneself. In medical terms, “paragraphie”
(paragraphia) is an aphasic transformation of language that results
in writing of unintended words or letters. This involves a control
loss, a gap between intention and action, between thought and
trace. |
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| Technical specifications |
Two
piezo-electric microphones, attached under the top panel of the
table, were partly isolated to avoid ambient sounds and to pick
up only the sounds coming from direct contact with the table. It
is worth noting that these microphones become more sensitive as
greater pressure is applied to them. They are preamplified with
a mixer, and then connected to the computer’s audio input (Mac’s
Sound Manager). The audio levels (in and out) are first set with
the mixer, then with Max/Msp. From the sound amplitude measured
by the program, we get a digital data that, according to it’s
value, triggers a random video sequence within one of three pre-determined
categories. There are 15 video loops in each category for a total
of 45 loops. For example, a weak sound produces hesitant gestures,
an average sound triggers actual writing and a loud sound provokes
impatience and destruction. These 1-5 seconds video loops, programmed
with SoftVNS, all come from the same QuickTime sequence (edited
down to 3 minutes). Images are sent out from the computer to the
projector through a VGA cable using the v.screen object in softVNS.
- Development
platform: Apple Power Macintosh G4, system 9.2 (www.apple.com) |
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| Schemes and pictures |
 
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| Video |
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| Assessment |
The
goal of this project was to “amplify” both literally and
metaphorically the writing gesture, which is usually a solitary
and intimate act. I wanted the sounds generated from contacts with
the paper to resonate in the gallery space. My intention was also
to create correlations between live actions and pre-recorded ones.
It was my first experience of integrating my video work with an
interactive device. My concern at first was that people would feel
inhibited and forced to write something coherent, perhaps even something
intelligent. The video images therefore suggest not only writing
but also more playful actions like tracing shapes or tearing up
paper. These short video loops accentuate the repetitive aspect
of the gesture rather than its content. To make the project more inviting, I privileged a low-tech appearance: a chair, a table covered with used paper and pencils. The only visible technology was the video projector suspended above the table that projected the image of a white sheet of paper on the center of the table in the absence of participants. It was essential that the viewers felt a certain sense of familiarity and writing and drawing are activities are part of daily life. These choices proved to be fruitful ones as the interactions observed lasted longer than expected – up to 15 minutes. The interactivity was conceived to create a range of relationships between the writer’s gestures and the video images. The experience focuses on improvisation and play rather than control and direct correspondence, and its scenario is being constantly re-written by the participant. In retrospect, although the visual aspect was successful and met my expectations, I realize that the audio aspect of the project had a greater impact on the participants. The sound of their own writing amplified in such a direct and unexpected way fascinated several of them who started to scribble anything just to hear what they sounded like. Unique to each person, these sounds turned out to be very rich and musical. In a sense, the table became a playful musical instrument. While participating, one is also “performing”. Technically, the system worked relatively well on short periods of time. However, for yet unknown reasons, it had a tendency to crash from time to time. The equipment used didn’t seem to offer enough stability for long term use. |
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