Very Nearly Almost
Technologic
So I got asked to write this column for Brainer about 10 mins ago, and I really didn’t know what I should write about. I work for VNA so I’m guessing it should be street art related, but seriously how many times do you need to read about pretty pictures on walls? As it happens quite a lot actually, but then I thought dang! I’m actually from the future so I’m going to give you a little insight about how technology changes everything. Everything including street art.
The rise of pico projectors and some cool videos of giant projectors
So we’re already seeing more and more artists using projectors to speed up their process and make things more efficient; creating art (at one scale) and using technology to scale things up. As projectors become increasingly compact, not only will this enable artists to get out and about without external power, it’ll also allow impromptu animation and film work to be shown nearly anywhere. We’re already starting to see projectors being integrated into phones and we’re not so far from every Tom, Dick and Banksy strolling around with the power to project in their pocket.
The possibilities are endless. Just check out what happens when you combine a projector, some smart 3D mapping and a computer. I know this is on a big scale and out of reach of most, but as it becomes cheaper and smaller (which it inevitably will), you can imagine what artists will be creating in the future.
It’s important to realise that when watching the videos below, it is not post production stuff. This is what you would see live!
And this one simply because it features a weird green tentacley thing with eyes and Tron. Worth watching in HD if you can.
OK enough projection stuff already.
Digital paper paste-ups
A dream?
I think not – give it 10 to 15 years and I suspect we will have e-paper type stuff that people will be able to paste up and use as digital displays. Flexible e-paper exists now and seems to be moving forward rapidly.
http://www.lgblog.co.uk/2010/01/lg-display-unveil-worlds-largest-e-paper/
Will artists use them as digital street galleries – updating them when they have a new piece? Animation and interaction coming to an urban wall near you soon.
The Eye Writer
Technology also helps people who may not be as fortunate as others or who have been in accidents which has hampered their creativity. Why should art be limited to people who can use their hands to draw?
Technology such as the eye writer is already out there – developed by an awesome group including Graffiti Research Lab, openFrameworks, The Fat Lab and The Ebeling Group for an artist who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which limits movement to just his eyes. Check out the video below. It really is incredibly moving and worth a watch, and this one really is street art related. Unless you’re a robot, you might feel some twangs while viewing.
A little more info over at boingboing.net
Creativity is such an essential aspect of humanity that enabling everyone to be creative is pretty dope in my opinion.
Wrap up
Technology is a tool, it is what we do as humans. From scribblings on cave walls, through to the printing press and now the digital age. Marker pens, paints, cans, these are all tools that allow artists to create. What will new tools allow us to create in the future?
Words: Ben Kellerman. While not penning columns for Brainer, Ben is a freelance creative – check out his website ostrichsized.com
