Dissolving Self
A live performance that employs metaphoric data visualization, motion capture and wearable technology to harness the subtle movements of a contemporary dancer inspired by the physical meditative ritual of Sufi whirling. The wireless gyroscope fastened to the performer mirrors the speed and torque of her lucid movement to the position and size of a projected oscillating sphere — a symbol of the Divine Cosmos as described in Rumi’s poetry.
Funded by the Ontario College of Art + Design (OCADU), York University and the International Symposium of Electronic Art. Showcased in Toronto (2013) and Dubai (2014).
artist’s intent
My artistic practice, Playformance strives to situate the human body as the serendipitous actuator of conceptual audiovisual content to offer a live, undirected and visceral experience for the performer as well as for the audience. In other words, the body-muse as a translator of virtual amplification.
The Dissolving Self project is part of a series of works that offer the space for the performer to rethink her craft in unexpected ways through the incorporation of interactive technology, which holds the potential to convey her inner thoughts and/or motives. Live movements on stage serve as the kinetic form of creative articulation, and are digitally translated to trigger multimedia in real-time. A gyroscope and a radio module (Xbee) worn by the dancer measure and transmit speed of rotation and a Microsoft Kinect captures lateral movement. These two sets of live data are fed into Processing, an open source software to create a responsive and metaphoric visualization that is projected over the dancer.
in vice magazine.
Access full article here.
the process.
the shows.
Dissolving Self was curated and publicly showcased twice. First at the HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory) academic conference at York University in 2013. And then by Zayed University and the American University of Dubai for ISEA (the International Symposium of Electronic Art) held in the UAE in 2014.
Toronto, Canada
Dubai, UAE
Maziar Ghaderi
Original Concept, Creative Direction
Ryan Maksymic
Technical Direction
Carlos Montenegro, student sponsored by CNPq - Brazil & Tamara Montenegro
Sound Design, Technical Assistance
Denise Mireau, Studio for Movement & Vrinda Bhandula
Choreography, Dancer
Loretta Faveri
Designer, Seamstress