Emotional Machines - Composing for Unstable Media.

Thorolf Thuestad

Emotional machines – composing for unstable media. Thorolf Thuestad In partial fulfilment of PhD in artistic research The Grieg Academy, Department of Music, Faculty of Art, Music, and Design, University of Bergen, 2021 The artistic research project Emotional machines - composing for unstable media explores how non-representational kinetic objects may afford affective and emotional responses, in particular experiences of kinship and relation between an audience and animated objects. Further possibilities for artistic expression are opened through composition and dramaturgy, in works where the animated objects perform alongside human performers and other media, such as light and sound. How may such animated non-representational physical objects be developed? How does animating the physical objects change the potential for experience of kinship and relation between audience and object? How does context modulate the potential for experience of kinship and relation between audience and animated physical object? How does the potential experience of kinship with the animated object differ for the creator of the object, and audience? These questions have been investigated through the creation of a set of animated kinetic figures. These figures have performed in a series of artistic presentations such as gallery exhibitions and stage presentations. The artistic research concludes with two complementary public artistic presentations taking place in bergen in June/July 2021; a time-based stage production at Cornerteatret and a gallery exhibition at Lydgalleriet. The presentations are considered connected and have the common title For one – for many – for all. This is an exposition of the research that presents the kinetic figures, the process of developing them, the questions they have contributed to explore, resulting artistic works (with particular emphasis on the final artistic presentations taking place in June/July 2021), the additional artists contributing to these public presentations, and a series of reflections resulting from the research. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emotional machines – composing for unstable media Thorolf Thuestad. Denne eksposisjonen presenteres som del av gjennomføring av doktorgrad i kunstnerisk utviklingsarbeid ved Griegakademiet, Institutt for musikk, Fakultet for kunst, musikk og design, Universitetet i Bergen, 2021. Emotional machines - composing for unstable media utforsker hvordan ikke-representative kinetiske objekter kan skape affektive og emosjonelle responser hos mennesker. Spesifikt opplevelse av slektskap og relasjon mellom et publikum og animerte objekter. Det åpnes ytterligere muligheter for kunstneriske uttrykk gjennom komposisjon og dramaturgi i verk der de animerte objektene opptrer sammen med menneskelige utøvere og andre medier, som lys og lyd. Hvordan kan animerte ikke-representative fysiske objekter utvikles med dette startpunktet som inspirasjon? Hvordan endrer animasjon av de fysiske objektene potensialet for opplevelse av slektskap og relasjon mellom publikum og objekt? Hvordan modulerer konteksten de animerte objektene presenteres i potensialet for opplevelse av slektskap og relasjon? Hvordan er den potensielle opplevelsen av slektskap med det animerte objektet forskjellig for skaperen(e) av objektet, og publikum? I Emotional machines – composing for unstable media har spørsmålene har blitt undersøkt ved hjelp av en gruppe animerte kinetiske figurer. Disse figurene har opptrådt i en rekke kunstneriske sammenhenger hovedsakelig galleriutstillinger og scenepresentasjoner. Prosjektet ble avsluttet med to utfyllende offentlige kunstneriske presentasjoner som fant sted i Bergen i juni/juli 2021: En tidsbasert sceneproduksjon vist på Cornerteatret og en galleriutstilling vist på Lydgalleriet. Presentasjonene er tilknyttet hverandre og har fellestittelen For one – for many – for all. Denne eksposisjonen presenterer de kinetiske figurene, prosessen med å utvikle dem, spørsmålene de har bidratt til å utforske, resulterende kunstneriske verk (med særlig vekt på de endelige kunstneriske presentasjonene i juni/juli 2021), kunstnerne som bidro til disse offentlige presentasjonene samt en rekke refleksjonstekster drevet frem av arbeidet med prosjektet.

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The word figure describes non-human entities that form part of the research project's artistic output. They are intended both as artistic artefacts in their own right, and as part-takers and performers featured in time-based compositions. They are the main actants addressing the questions posed in this project.

The figures are physical objects of various sizes, made from multiple materials, and are animated in the sense that they can physically move using electrical actuators. They are designed to operate either by themselves, as individual entities, or act in concert with other figures or human performers. They are created with the potential for movement as a primary concern, but they also have a physical aesthetic presence when still. When animated, the motion continuously changes their physical proportions.

They perform their actions of moving or they are still as singular entities. I hope to instill the impression that relations and interactions occur between the figures, or between the figures and human performers or observers.

The figures evolved from drawings of what may be considered abstract shapes or forms. Through various processes, a material object or objects derive from the drawing. To me, a drawing evocates absent realities. Physical objects are spawned as the figures attempt to grow from the drawing into these realities. However, the figures may experience that existence as a physical object makes them ill-equipped to fulfil the vibrancy of possibilities promised by the drawings. Maybe they long to return to the simplicity of being a drawing, but can never again be what they were as evocations emerging from simple line drawings. Yet, they persist in their attempts to inspire new absent realities in their material form, braving the limitations imposed on them by the oppressive realness of materiality.

I interpret the word figure either as tangible, describing physical extents, or as addressing placement in context. Figure is not yet a character. A character has abilities, skills and characteristics, qualities that can be considered internal. Through their activities and presence in this project's compositions and their encounters with each other and the (human) audience, I hope the figures can become characters through the various narratives experienced by the entities they meet. That the creation of new evocations in these encounters carries the potential for them to transcend their existence as surfaces, allowing them to be filled with characteristics, becoming characters.

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