Peripheral vision: a written accompaniment to the thesis exhibition

Abstract

Conceptually, the ideas presented in Peripheral. Vision have evolved through an interest in mediation and communication - the potential for bridging gaps between seemingly opposing ideas, such as science and art, subject and object, illusion and reality, and good and evil. I chose the computer as a medium because of its potential for interactivity and multi-media manipulation. With the assistance of a computer science student, Curtis Jensen, I developed a multi-disciplinary installation presented in a theatre environment which involves computer control and manipulation of light, sound, video and still images in a context that involves the viewer not as an on-looker but as a participant. The resulting work acts as a mediator between viewer and artist, between viewers participating within the space, and between humans and technology in general. The viewer becomes a contributor to the work through his or her interactions. There is a CD-Rom available documenting this project.