On Monday, I had the pleasure to be involved with the V&A at Dundee’s ‘Digital Mash 4’ as a part of the NEoN Digital Arts Festival. The event started with me talking about my residency so far, specifically about my Strawberry Thief game project. I then gave a few examples of museums being ‘playful’ and digitally interactive. I began by showing Philip Worthington’s ‘Shadow Monsters’ installation which I saw a few years ago in the Design Museum, and was also shown at MoMA December 7, 2012–January 2, 2013.
Worthington made the installation as a project for degree in Interaction Design from the Royal College of Art in London. In an interview with DesignMuseum.org, Worthing states that the project ‘grew from a brief about technological magic tricks. I was looking at optical illusions and Victorian hand shadows particularly interested me as a starting point. The subtlety with which a character could be created was already very magical and I wondered if there was room to experiment with these techniques. Looking back to my own childhood, I remembered the feeling of casting huge shapes in the light of my father’s slide projector, creating monsters and silly animals. I enjoy working with simple intuitive things; playful feelings that touch us on a very basic level.’
I feel that a lot could be done with these kinds of techniques in museums. Using projectors is an easy way to bring empty spaces to life.
I feel that a lot could be done with these kinds of techniques in museums. Using projectors is an easy way to bring empty spaces to life.
I also showed the new ‘Digital Dragons’ installation at the V&A, created by Bright Ideas Design with the museum to tie in with the Masterpieces of Chinese Painting exhibition. The temporary installation uses four projectors, Xbox Kinects and custom code to create an interactive painting. Visitors can interact with the dragons, people and landscapes. The great thing about this piece is that it could be possibly be customised too different experiences and themes to tie in with museum exhibits.
I also discussed a piece I saw at Culture Hack Scotland – the interactive Carpet ‘Canna Hear the Birds’ which as a judge I chose as my winner.
I also discussed a piece I saw at Culture Hack Scotland – the interactive Carpet ‘Canna Hear the Birds’ which as a judge I chose as my winner.
I thought it was important to show examples of how installations can be made from data/heritage, as this is want the V&A at Dundee would be working on for their own installations. I also liked that this piece of work is not overly digital - it uses a carpet as an input method, rather than screens like most interactives.
After my presentation, we then had the audience come up with their own playful museum ideas. They were prompted with postcards and images showing Scottish Design heritage – from Harris Tweed to GTA to the Jaguar F-Type! The ideas were then presented and filmed for the V&A Dundee team to look over for ideas and inspiration. The V&A at Dundee’s engagement with the public is a very exciting way to explore ideas and build their collections.
After my presentation, we then had the audience come up with their own playful museum ideas. They were prompted with postcards and images showing Scottish Design heritage – from Harris Tweed to GTA to the Jaguar F-Type! The ideas were then presented and filmed for the V&A Dundee team to look over for ideas and inspiration. The V&A at Dundee’s engagement with the public is a very exciting way to explore ideas and build their collections.
