Creating New Spaces: Interviews with artists redefining spaces through technology Robin Petterd

Ever wondered about the environmental impact of your digital footprint? In this interview, Ali Phi discusses the creative process behind 'TWh (terawatt hours)'. 'TWh' is an installation that blends web technologies to explore the environmental impact of digital technologies. The installation was commissioned by the New Now Festival and exhibited at the Mixing Plant in Zollverein, an industrial coal mine complex and UNESCO heritage site in Essen, Germany.

Listen to this podcast to learn about how:


How Ali uses installations to visualise energy and highlight the ecological footprint of digital technology.


How installation and performance have distinct possibilities and problems. 


How Ali designs immersive experiences with multiple layers of audience interaction.



Highlights

(0:0:04) Exploring digital footprints through interactive art installations

(0:4:16) The environmental impact of data storage and digital technologies

(0:8:48) Art, technology, and social impact in Decompositions for computers

(0:15:56) AI-driven interactive art and its environmental impact

(0:17:13) Exploring AI and technology as tools for creative artworks

(0:19:49) Creating 3D models and prototyping

(0:24:12) Layers of audience experience in interactive art installations



About Ali Phi

Ali Phi, originally from Tehran and now based in Toronto, is a new media artist and creative technologist. His work intersects art, science, and technology through installations, autonomous machines, and performances. Focusing on the interplay between physical perception and cognitive exploration, Ali uses computer programming and generative algorithms to create interactive media that blend geometry, light, and poetry.

As the artistic director of TADAEX, he has been a jury member, mentor, and lecturer. His work has been exhibited at Ars Electronica, Mutek (Montreal, Santiago, Buenos Aires), the Ontario Science Centre, Patchlab Digital Art Festival (Poland), and Asia Now: Paris Asian Art Fair. He has earned awards from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council.



Links from the podcast 


Learn more about the TWh


Visit Ali Phil’s website 


Follow Ali Phil on Instagram 


Find out more about the Machine with Oil - Arthur Ganson


Learn more about the New Now Festival

In this interview Joel Zika talks about the creative process behind “Valley of a Thousand Plants”. “Valley of a Thousand Plants" is an immersive installation that surrounds audiences with hyper-real animated plant forms that react to visitors' proximity. The installation is hosted at the Cube at the Multi-Arts Pavilion in Lake Macquarie, NSW, a 360-degree immersive digital projection space.

Joel Zika is a multimedia artist and educator currently teaching at Kent State University. He has a background in VR projects, documentaries, interactive animations, and public installations. During the interview Joel briefly discusses his PhD research on dark rides in amusement parks, exploring how the history of indoor ride design can inform contemporary media production.   



Highlights

(6:01) The social dynamics of amusement parks and digital experiences

(8:55) Interactive art installations with sensor-activated plant animations

(19:28) Creating interactive spaces with simple tech

(29:08) Collaborative creativity



About Joel Zika 

Dr. Joel Zika is an immersive media expert with a Ph.D. from Swinburne University in Melbourne  He is currently teaching at Kent State University, where he continues to inspire the next generation of media artists. With over 15 years of experience, his work spans virtual reality films, documentaries, and public installations, showcased globally at venues like the Moss Arts Center and Dark Mofo. An educator at institutions such as Deakin and RMIT Universities, Zika also speaks at global events like South By Southwest. A key aspect of his research is the application of game engines for the location-based entertainment sector and virtual production.



Links from the interview with Joel Zika   


Learn more about the Valley of a 1000 plants
Visit the  Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima website 
Learn more about Collide Public Art
Visit the Joel Zika website 
Follow Joel Zika on Instagram

Amalie Solande from Vertigo, a Copenhagen-based audiovisual artist collective, discusses their outdoor light installation, Siro, in this episode. The installation features a circle of large light tubes that change colour when approached by the audience, creating a magical and immersive experience. Amalie also shares insights into the collaborative process at Vertigo and the challenges they faced in creating the installation. Tune in to learn more about their unique approach to blending nature and technology in their art.



Highlights

(1:28) Interactive light installation transforms with audience proximity

(4:09) Unveiling the magic of fairy rings in nature

(5:01) Merging technology with nature

(7:43) Crafting magical light installations for a winter festival

(9:50) Integrating Sketchup and Touchdesigner for visual simulations

(13:16) Diverse skill sets in a creative team

(14:02) Collaborative dynamics in the team

(16:46) Overcoming weather challenges in outdoor light installations

(17:19) Risk assessment

(19:21) Illuminating the wave: a transformative light and sound journey

(20:36) Embracing fun in the challenges of light art



About Vertigo

Established in 2011, Vertigo is a Copenhagen-based audiovisual artist collective known for its inventive light installations, scenographies, and immersive experiences. Vertigo’s work often incorporates elements of nature and technology, creating a magical and contrasting experience for audiences. Vertigo's portfolio includes exhibitions at Copenhagen Contemporary, SNFCC in Athens, Centre Point in London, and many highly prestigious venues. The collective's success can be attributed to its members' unwavering dedication to their craft and shared vision.


Collaborations with the Copenhagen Philharmonics, Den Sorte Skole, Who Killed Bambi, DR Symphonic Orchestra, Lil Lacy, and Hotel Pro Forma have expanded Vertigo's creative horizons. In 2023, the collective earned a Reumert Prize nomination for their work on Sky66en.



Links from the podcast  

- Learn more about  SHIRO

- Visit the Vertigo website 

- Follow Vertigo on Instagram  

- Follow Amalie Solande on Instagram  

This episode is an interview with artists Vicky Browne and Simon Reece about their innovative work, "Motherboard." Merging ceramics with technology, this piece invites viewers to experience interactive sculptures that emit varying tonal frequencies as they hold the objects. The piece was developed for a show called “Underground” that was held at the Blue Mountains Cultural centre from late 2023 to early 2024.   

Vicky Browne, an interdisciplinary artist with a background in sculpture, and Simon Reece, a ceramic artist, both hail from the Blue Mountains, Australia.  The interview explores the audience’s response to the interaction, and the process of developing the piece and the importance of collaboration in their practice. 



Highlights



(0:02:04) Vicky describes the physicality of Motherboard and its interactive nature.

(0:03:01) People at the exhibition interacted with the sculpture, creating nonverbal communication.

(0:00:01) Simon discusses the importance of allowing space for creativity.

(0:06:09) The importance of tactile response and the freedom to touch ceramics in the artwork.

(0:07:00) Vicky and Simon’s focus on materiality and problem-solving in their collaborative process.

(0:09:22) The unique aesthetic and combined strengths that arise from their collaboration.

(0:12:40) Playing and problem-solving

(0:13:12) Collaboration allows for new and unexpected work

(0:14:29) Collaboration leads to making things they wouldn’t normally produce

(0:15:27) Learning from each other’s different approaches

(0:18:19) Technology embedded in our lives and materials

(0:19:19) Greater respect for materials through technology

(0:19:56) Exploring the interconnectedness of technology and materials

(0:22:44) Allowing space for collaboration and being open to different ideas

(0:23:52) Leaving ego at the door and effective communication



About ​Vicky Browne ​Vicky Browne, an interdisciplinary mixed media artist from the Blue Mountains, NSW, completed her Master of Visual Art at Sydney College of the Arts in 2010. Her extensive exhibition history includes showcases at renowned venues like Artspace Sydney, Artspace Auckland, and Dunedin Public Art Gallery in New Zealand. Browne's participation in institutional group exhibitions, such as Living in the Ruins of the Twentieth Century at UTS Gallery and Sound Full at City Gallery Wellington, has bolstered her standing in the contemporary art sphere. Notable achievements include winning the 2013 Fauvette Loureiro Memorial Artists’ Travel Scholarship Prize. Browne's recent solo exhibition, Work/Play at Blue Mountains City Gallery in 2022, underscores her exploration of mixed media and interdisciplinary art, establishing her as a leading figure in Australian art.



About Simon ReeceSimon Reece is a distinguished ceramic artist celebrated for his expertise and inventive approach to ceramics. Trained at The National Art School, he delved into ceramics in the early 1980s, refining his craft under expert tutelage. A pivotal moment came in 1985 when Reece journeyed to Japan, immersing himself in wood firing ceramics under master Uneo Norihide's guidance in Bizen. This transformative experience shaped Reece's unique aesthetic and profound understanding of ceramic art. Back in Australia, he became a journeyman potter, collaborating with peers and constructing wood kilns. Reece's diverse portfolio spans tableware for top chefs, environmental sculptures, and global workshops, solidifying his influence in contemporary ceramics




Links from the interview and Vicky Browne and Simon Reece   




Visit Vicky Browne’s website  
Follow Vicky Browne’s on Instagram
Read Vicky Browne’s article -  Sound is as much in the dirt as it is in the air
Visit Simon Reece’s website
Follow on Instagram
Learn more about the Underground exhibition   

In this interview Theresa Schubert a Berlin-based artist discusses her “Glacier trilogy”, a three-piece work that explores the transformation of glaciers in the face of climate change. 
The Glacier trilogy, which is the outcome from S+T+ARTS 4 WATER artist residency.   
The interview explores the creative processes behind the making of the trilogy, including working with generative AI and with a glassblower.

Listen to this podcast to learn about 


Insights into using art to comment on and bring awareness to global environmental issues like climate change through thematic focus and material choice.


The importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration, working with experts from different fields to enrich art projects, enhance their execution, and broaden their impact.


The creative application of generative AI.


The value of artist residencies in providing unique opportunities for research exploration, and collaboration.  


Practical advice on making the most out of residency programs.    

Highlights
(0:01:41) Theresa describes the Glacier trilogy as a three-piece work that explores glaciers and their transformation in the current climate crisis.
(0:02:42) Theresa explains the first part of the trilogy, which includes a sound composition and a projection of synthetic glacier formation videos.
(0:04:17) Theresa discusses the second part of the trilogy, which features glass vessels containing ice core melt water from glaciers, emphasising the fragility of the environment.
(0:05:57) Theresa talks about the third part of the trilogy, a video sculpture that simulates glacial fluid systems and includes CO2 sensors that affect the simulation based on the presence of people in the exhibition space.
(0:08:20) Theresa explains the importance of the topic of climate change and the role of art in bringing it to a wider audience through experiential and reflective approaches.
(0:13:10) Theresa explains that she didn’t have specific ideas initially but was inspired by various inputs during the residency, including visiting an archive and translating the diaries of an Italian glaciologist.
(0:16:20) Theresa discusses the difference between working with simulations of natural phenomena and using generative AI models for visual or text-based outputs.
(0:18:03) The excitement of AI’s unpredictability and variation.
(0:21:06) Working with a glass blower for the first time.
(0:22:48 Researching and collaborating with scientists and experts.
(0:24:54) Differences in physicality and bodily experiences between glass blowing and computer work.
(0:28:46) Establishing lasting connections and relationships after the residency.
(0:30:02) Advice for artists doing residencies: come with curiosity, network, and find something unique to the location.

About Theresa Schubert
Theresa Schubert, operating at the confluence of alchemy and science fiction, is a visionary Berlin-based artist, researcher, and curator whose work interrogates anthropocentrism while fostering alternative visions and sensory experiences. With a PhD from Bauhaus-University Weimar, her work spans installations and performances that incorporate living organisms and AI, questioning the nature-culture divide in our digital age. Schubert's projects, recognized globally with awards from prestigious entities like the Japan Media Arts Festival and Prix Ars Electronica, engage deeply with environmental and ethical themes. As a curator and educator, she extends her inquiry into the unconventional, advocating for a harmonious intertwining of technology, art, and the natural world.  

Links from the podcast  


Learning more ⁠⁠Glacier Trilogy – Part 1⁠⁠: a synthetic archive, ⁠⁠Glacier Trilogy – Part 2⁠⁠: earth memory, ⁠⁠Glacier Trilogy – Part 3⁠⁠: Simulating glacial water systems 
Learn more about ⁠⁠ S+T+ARTS⁠⁠ 
Visit Theresa Schubert’s ⁠⁠website⁠
Follow Theresa Schubert on ⁠⁠Instagram

Camila Colussi, a Chilean artist based in London, discusses her sound-light interactive installation "Tectonic Lingering: A microPolitics of Time". The piece explores the concept of time and the acceleration of technology, inviting viewers to pause and reflect. The installation features an LED light display that responds to real-time earthquake data from around the world as well as an interactive sound component that tells stories about earthquakes and time. The interview explores experiences of time, place, and Camila’s process.  


Highlights


(0:01:39) Camila explains the concept of "Tectonic lingering" and how it relates to her personal experience with earthquakes in Chile.
(0:06:05) Camila describes the LED light display in the installation and how it interacts with earthquake data.
(0:07:20) Camila discusses the sound interactive system in the installation and how it tells stories about earthquakes and time.
(0:10:42) Robin reflects on how experiencing tremors in Chile changed Camila's awareness of the world.
(0:13:03) Camila discusses the fragility of the earth and how it can be taken for granted.
(0:15:13) Camila explains the intention behind creating an invitation to linger with the installation.
(0:16:21) Camila discusses the use of headphones in the installation and how it enhances the immersive experience.
(0:19:34) Simplifying the technology for portability and accessibility.
(0:21:35) The piece started from a desire to explore slowness in technology.
(0:24:02) Making decisions and refining the concept over time.
(0:25:05) Writing, drawing, and prototyping to develop the piece.
(0:29:05) Challenges and iterations in the prototyping process.
(0:33:12) Advice for artists working with interactivity. Camila discusses the need for flexibility in physical computing projects.


About Camila Colussi      


Camila Colussi, a Chilean artist based in London, has an MFA in Computational Arts from Goldsmiths University of London and currently works at Kingston University. She works across mediums like installation, video, sound, objects, and interactive technologies. Her art explores the nexus of technology, politics, and human experience, focusing on the political dimensions of time, care, and sensing technologies. Colussi's pieces have graced prestigious venues globally, earning her accolades like a 2023 Lumen Prize nomination and grants such as the 2020 FONDART Nacional from the Ministerio de las Culturas, Chile. She is also a sought-after speaker and educator, sharing insights worldwide.


Links from the podcast  



Learn more about ⁠Tectonic Lingering: a microPolitics of Time⁠   
Visit Camila Colussi’s ⁠website 
Follow Camila Colussi on Instagram