calendario eventi  :: 

X

18/3/2001

Experience of space

Tate Modern, London

2.30 pm
Starr Auditorium
Tate Modern London

Curator: B. Rauch
Chair: Prof M. Le Grice
Speakers: Dr Antti Revonsuo, Elena Cologni, Jude James, Barbara Rauch

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VIRTUAL REALITY AS A METAPHOR OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Dr. Antti Revonsuo
Academy of Finland and University of Turku

The scientific study of consciousness is at a stage where no unifying theory of consciousness exists yet. The history of science shows that at such an early stage of scientific explanation, a fruitful metaphor can guide research in the absence of a theory. I propose that the concept of "Virtual Reality" is an appropriate metaphor of consciousness. Consciousness consists of direct presence in, or full immersion into, the center of a three-dimensional, spatially extended world; the experience of being a-self-in-the-world. As evidence from dream research and neuropsychology shows, this virtual reality of consciousness - the experience of space, body- image, and surrounding objects - must be an internal construction of the brain. Somehow, the experience of being present in the world-out-there is created deep inside the brain: The virtual reality inside the brain involves an out-of-the-brain experience. The implications of the virtual reality metaphor for the study of consciousness will be discussed.

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MORNING TOILETTE
Elena Cologni

The core issue around which I built my artistic discourse and my PhD project, is the perception or interaction between myself, my work (the artist) and the audience. The context/place/space in which this relationship takes place influences our mutual perception, the results of which are incorporated in the artistic event. As a consequence the experience of the event depends upon the connotation of the space as well as each individual's experience of it.

The cognitive process which enables us to gain knowledge of the world through senses, is influenced by the above mentioned ever changing conditions.

The video performance Morning Toilette presented in the context of 'Experience of Space' is composed by a chiasmus structure (already referred to in the video performance bluX). Chiasmus might be called 'reverse parallelism', since the second part of a grammatical construction is balanced or paralleled by the first part, only in reverse order (this happens also in a mirrored image). The 4 terms, in 2 couples, refer to each other.

In the performance the presence of spectators looking at the projections is one of the terms of the relation. A gap of significance is filled with perception.

The fist video clip shown is one of the five shot in summer 2000, by reversing the video camera screen used as a mirror. Spectators look at the image of myself looking at them. Simultaneously the projection on the side shows the action happening next door.

Key words: absence, presence, representation, here.

Elena Cologni PhD candidate The London Institute Central Saint Martins College PhD Research Title 'The identity of the real in relation to the experience of space'
e.cologni1@csm.linst.ac.uk
http://www.research.linst.ac.uk/csm-students/ELENA/ELENA%20COLOGNI.htm

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JUDE JAMES: Wimbledon School of Art

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

'My work is centred in performance: using the body, in space, defined by light. Live performance is the primary site of my work. Film and installation are variants for developing the themes that I work with in performance. I utilise very specific energies of body and place.

My work is located in the 'sacred': the sacred geometry of the body and the scared geometry of space. The body is the location of the sacred. Light is used to illuminate and serves as the vehicle of revelation. The numinous aspect of space comes into play through the 'form' and 'nature' by which space is defined. The body 'reads' the knowledge embodied in abstract geometric form.

Form is knowledge. Knowledge is transmitted as resonance. Abstract form constitutes pure knowledge. My work explores these statements in the context of a body in movement, within abstract sculpted light forms. The methodology of the body is to re-member; to re-awaken the in-tuition resident within the body.

In-tuition seeks out the resonance of the abstract light form. The consequent vibration through movement and being constitutes communication in its most direct form. Communication is experienced as communion. Communion constitutes transformation.

The dance was performed by Richard Harding, Anglo-German performance artist. Through contempletative process and improvisation through movement, a state of consciousness becomes manifest in which the dance finds the seeker.

Jo Thomas is a composer based in Islington, North London. Her music and installations receive presentation worldwide through life performance, internet and radio. Currently, she is persuing a Ph.D in Music Composition at City University London.
j.m.thomas@city.ac.uk
jude@judejames.com
richdidge@hotmail.com
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Barbara Rauch

artist, using digital media, performance and video sculpture for her installations; since the end of 1999 enrolled for a part-time Ph.D. in The London Institute.

Title of the research is "Fine Art and Virtual Environments: a practice-based exploration of paradigms of experience and imagination". The aim of this investigation is to demonstrate how new technology can affect the relationship between the real and the imagined. It is also to investigate similarities between being on-line and being in a dream-state. The dissertation will explore issues of consciousness in relation to new technology within the context of her own fine art practice.

Tate Modern 'foot & metre' Experiencing Space in Virtual Environments and Dreams

In my presentation I will investigate how new technology can affect the relationship between the real and the imagined. Within the context of the early 21st century, the question of the real and the imagined will be re- addressed. Similarities between being online and being in a dream-state are my key concerns; I will focus on perceived similarities between constructed realities within the context of the Internet (particularly online situations MUDs (Multi-User Domains) and MOOs and dream-states. MUDs are locations in the Internet, where users can create their own new identities, appearances and behaviour through largely text-based communication. Through analysis of current research into the functioning of the dreaming mind and the experience of virtual reality in online situations, this presentation will explore the relationship between these two fields.

The possibility of a commonality between Virtual Reality and dreams will be questioned; whether there is an equivalence between the recently built virtual spaces such as MOOs and MUDs and being in a dream state.

b.rauch@camb.linst.ac.uk

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