Meditation, 2024. Interactive painting, video in TouchDesigner, batik dye on fabric, electric paint, touch board kit, 24 x 36” and 5:00.
Meditation has two parts: on top is a batik painting, and below is circuitry made with a Touch Board. A projector is triggered to unveil dynamic 3D animation and sound as viewers interact by touching the center area of the canvas. This work aims to convey a serene and profound energy inspired by the natural world, encouraging viewers to immerse themselves in comfort, serenity, and meditation.
In my artistic journey, I am driven by a deep fascination with the convergence of tradition and innovation, seeking to bridge the gap between craftsmanship and technology. My latest endeavor manifests as an interactive painting that marries the intricate beauty of batik art with the dynamic possibilities of modern electronics.
This artwork uses a Touch Board to trigger a projector, unveiling dynamic 3D animations and sound. This adds depth to the artwork, allowing viewers to participate actively in the experience. By encouraging interaction through touch, the installation creates a sense of connection and immersion, inviting viewers to explore the artwork.
The main visual element of this artwork is a personified, web-like abstract form, symbolizing the neural network of the brain and representing the intrinsic connection between humanity and the universe. The piece uses images of nebulae as the background and adds a fluid animation to enhance the richness of abstract forms and textures in the composition. The web-like abstract form symbolizes the intricate relationship between human thought and natural energy, echoing the fusion of the human spirit and natural energy during meditation.
My artwork explored the power of abstraction. Guided by intuition and experimentation, I relinquish control and allow the canvas to become a vessel for spontaneous creation. Each brushstroke and gesture becomes a meditation on the fluidity of form and the depths of the subconscious mind, which infuses the installation with tranquility and serenity, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in contemplation and introspection.
Yes, the project tech part is based on: touch, and mapping.
- touch: to use the touch board as a
MIDI Controller; - mapping: to use the
MadMapperto receive the note data from touch board, theMIDI Controller.
The Touch Board can be used as a MIDI controller to send MIDI note data to Apple GarageBand or other creation software (the MadMapper in this project) that accepts external MIDI controllers. If one of the Touch Board's electrodes is triggered, the board sends the data to GarageBand (or, the MadMapper). Using the Touch Board is a great way to create a minimal interface to play your music or trigger the video on Madmapper.
The Touch Board can be used as a MIDI controller to send MIDI note data to MadMapper. Change the video's play settings to "Play the movie to the end of the loop and pause." Now, open the MIDI control settings in MadMapper. Select the video, then click the "Goto beginning" button, then touch the sensor on your wall. The "Goto beginning" button should now be grey and have something written across it, like "1/C2".
Drag and drop the video into the workspace of MadMapper. Then, map imagery and even sound simultaneously.