Friday 18 October 2013

Smart Data: Safe & Secure Planet @ The Science Museum

@flexians @eyehub  #securiot
http://vimeo.com/77040326

I went to the Science Museum after hours last week not only to enjoy the large amount of free (and very good) white wine on offer, but to learn a little bit more about the term 'Smart Data' and the implications of keeping our data secure.

A 'quiet revolution' of people from all fields of industry and research gathered for an evening of discussion - which at times got rather heated - concerning solutions and suggestions to liberate the data that we all produce. Mostly, what was being opposed is the dominance of private information storage hubs (prime example: Google) which take the information we create (through use of the internet, our smartphones, etc) and use it for their own strategical benefit. A major change in attitude towards openness and privacy might offer us the potential to realise that innovation isn't with the holder of the data, but that the value of this information is found away from these large corporations.Thinkers and artists can provide new - and more 'cultural' - approaches to interpreting such big data; releasing this information can let more people 'get smart' and consider new ways to combat serious world issues.By fragmenting data into a distributive system of many small domains, we not only have a lot less to loose should something be hacked/corrupted, but we offer all kinds of 'non-tech' people he chance to use the tools and structures in place.


I also got the chance to have a look at the new 3D printing exhibition with no-one else around, which was great since some of our 3D Pritnshow team had helped do some printed at the PR exhibition opening the day before.



I was most excited by the trend I am seeing in acknowledging that culturally-educated/trained/interested individuals are slowly being given more opportunity to exchange with issues of Digital Humanities within a technological context. 'Big Data' is a vague and complicated term, but in my opinion can only be understood through a collaboration between people of different disciplines - rather than leaving everything to the (often) narrow-minded technologists as we have for the last nine or ten years.

I really hope to find my place amongst this movement. 

Canal Mills: contributions

A short piece I've written for Canal Mills, which is a warehouse club back up in Leeds



My contributions to their blog will cover arts and music.

Tapping into the context of a CAD-reliant world of fluro snakeskin and trippy renaissance gifs, French design team UNICORN create some pretty awesome visuals.With projects ranging from shop-front installations and data mapping, right through to fashion show animations and beat-match visualisations, their tumblr portfolio makes for both an impressive and a really interesting scroll. UNICORN infuse a critical technological element into their work. Their use of 3D scanning (employing the mega-successful kinect sensor) takes the physicality of the body/sculpture and slots it into the surreal, digital environment of the Internet animation

The graphic aesthetic is that of early-days myspace embellishment, whilst the soundtrack ranges anywhere from an electro-synth organ symphony to a glitchy techno clickbeat - and this experimental, musical aspect of their work is particularly interesting. Under the impact of generative design and digital imagery, UNICORN explores contemporary music visualisation in a tangible way. Such a playful approach to matching moving images with live track mixing not only looks really effective, but really fun, and could certainly provide some creative performance possibilities for live DJ sets and shows in the future.
For more examples of their work, including their video projects, visit the Unicorn Paris tumblr page

Additionally, this mentioned work reminded me of this: Rhizomatiks

Monday 14 October 2013

Tokyo Hands: Exotic Fantasy



Feeling miserable about the grey London drizzle? As we slowly slump back into the disheartening routine of winter, some of us tend to look for that tropical summer feeling in all the wrong places. Fake tan won't help you here ladies. And you'd better replace that 5-panel snapback for a beanie my friend. If you're sitting in your bedroom reminiscing over Croatian cliff-diving or Thai-white beaches, then perhaps easing into an online exotic fantasy might help you forget about tomorrow morning's wet walk into uni. 

https://soundcloud.com/dismagazine/tokyo-hands-exotic-fantasy/s-ay4WH


Tokoyo Hands (via DIS Magazine) present to you an excellent half-hour mix of nostalgic summer vibes combined with some trancy jungle beats. It's the sound of running water and parrot-song that will really take you elsewhere - either that, or the hyper-real, neon rainforest themed artwork that accompanies the mix.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

ze illest skejdaz

Quick link to the ski blog I keep:

http://zeillestskejdaz.tumblr.com/



Skiing is a real personal, separate passion of mine, and this blog is a great way for me to keep involved even when I'm out of the scene (which I have been for too long!).
Get in touch if you're interested in contributions to anything from me.

Denmark




Monday 7 October 2013

Digital Humanities: Russia


I was invited to Russia for a few days to take part in a Digital Humanities conference hosted by The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. It was an incredible experience, and my research (my BA dissertation) was received much better than I had expected by the Russian guests, speakers and organisers. I was even asked to sign the books in which my work was published for them!

Despite St. Petersberg being a particularly European city in the Russian Federation, being there for a few days was amazing. The architecture and layout of the city was very formal, and it was absolutely freezing. I was thrilled to get time to wander around the Hermitage for a few hours before climbing to the top of St. Isaac's Cathedral to watch the sun set over the skyline.

A write up for the event can be found on aqnb.com soon.

(here)






Tuesday 1 October 2013

aqnb.com: The Space between Art and Technology - Algorithms



I've written a piece which investigates algorithm, coding, API and how these technological techniques can be interpreted (via particualr software) to create a visual output.

3D print aesthetic: High Fashion developments

I'm not saying that these pieces are 3D printed, but Dior's collection at Paris Fashion Week a few days ago certainly seems to be picking up on a similar kind of aesthetic. Which is pretty cool.

images via WGSN

Oh dior galore we need these shoes! #PFW

The dior ‘Lady’ handbag received an update today, executed in a web-like design #PFW