RESIDENCE PROJECT Creation Via Telepresence Applicant Artist: Pablo Cortes Remote Collaborator Artist: Loreto Caviedes
SUMMARY. International distance collaborative project that builds on creation via telepresence: through portable computers, webcams, video projectors and editing video programs on live, two performers communicate each other remotely to investigate and create in real time in relation to the new possibilities of the body and movement (dance) that allow the telepresence, communication media who allows infinite new possibilities of artistic and aesthetic creation, where is the body who is called into question, is problematized, is modified, is mutated, and who is taking increasing prominence today, result of technological developments and the use of massive online tools and platforms. The basic concept of work is related to the body language and movement at distance: how can we dance and perform being together but telematically?, what are the new possibilities, limits and consequences?
PROJECT GENERAL DECRIPTION. During my studies of contemporary dance in Chile I realized that my interests are increasingly heading to the processes of creation and research, rather than the products, situation that could possibly be a result of my pass through my studies of psychology . That’s why that, from 2007 to the present day, have been years of great experimentation, by through different lines, the contemporary dance first, and then to address myself increasingly to the performance, and finally to digital arts. However, the body (and its movement) has been the research concept who it cross all these different areas. All this with the purpose of know different forms of creation and processes, with I have also learned different tools. Currently, I am in a process of exploration in relation to how new massive technologies and of easy access that the internet allow, have given new possibilities of communication, which has a direct effect on the body, producing a questioning, a transformation and a mutation of the same body. The mediation of the body through the new technologies produces a increasingly fragmentation of itself, and not only the body but also their language, specifically the body language, its movement, its dance, as this also has been changing through the new media. I came to this type of research, of socio-artistic concerns, because, as parallel to my studies in dance, and even before, I was introduced gradually, and self-taught, into the new media and the technology, which was influencing increasingly my work as a choreographer and performer: first with the video, then with motion sensors devices and today with the creation via telepresence, which, the latter especially, has given me much consistency in relation to mutation of communication and mutation of the body. In general terms, I personally consider the creation via telepresence like an artistic creation that occurs through a distance communication media thanks to a series of technologies that enable the information exchange, where the basic communication platform is the Internet. The principal possibility of telepresence is that it allows to be present elsewhere without being there physically. In these experiences I have come to realize how telepresence not only allows to the body new forms of aesthetic expression, but also allows the implementation of new methods or processes of artistic creation. And not only this, but also it has become a democratic tool, ie, where anyone, not just artists and technicians, can have access to it, which gives a view of art also democratic. Also personally I think the art products and processes become more accessible and closer, and therefore, less elitist, where the art becomes a massive social practice, a way to meet and create the world, knowledge and society. This is why I’m interested in the performance work, and especially now through the creation via telepresence work, because this latter is a tool that, in addition to being increasingly available in everyday life, is a communication media who allows infinite new possibilities of artistic and aesthetic creation, where is the body who is called into question, is problematized, is modified, is
mutated. And most interesting is that this body type is taking increasing prominence today, result of technological developments and the use of massive online tools and platforms. I wonder if to communicate via telepresence, besides that the information exchanged is mediated (mutated), if there are an exchange of new information, a new language, especially when there are increasing tools for edit our image in real time. Another important point is the fact that telepresence breaks the frontiers increasingly for the communicative act. We don't need to be physically present to be present, and also allow a faster communication, effective in the use of time, and provides new information nonverbally. And considering that the creative process is a process of communication, the telepresence also gives to art new possibilities, new aesthetics, new corporalities, new languages. And that's what I started to investigate more deeply the last year with chilean performers, where the working platform has been based on the creation via telepresence through easily accessible tools. Specifically, with the chilean performer Loreto Caviedes, we create a first artistic prototype, which was built at distance using only a portable computer with integrated webcam, internet, videoconferencing program (Oovoo) and an editing real time video program (ManyCam), where the artistic goal was to establish a conversation via telepresence, but only corporal, creating a new language of movement in real time through the new possibilities both spatial (that gives the frame of the webcam) and aesthetic, thanks to the direct editing of ManyCam. Prior to a few testing techniques and test of the different possibilities that gave us both the webcam and the video editing program (ManyCam), the work rules consisted basically that it should be a creation via telepresence in real time without any specific prior script, only a corporal and aesthetic conversation, where one of the performers proposes a moving picture and edited visually, and in relation to this the other performer responds with a new image, and this latter again is taken as a proposal to be answered again with a new motion picture for the other performer, and so on, creating a “ensamble� of body images. However, this was only the first phase of exploration, where the following is to investigate in relation to the whole body, to its movement, to its dance, and the most importantly, in dialogue to another body via telepresence to explore what new possibilities have two bodies who want to communicate non-verbally, and besides they also are fully mediated, which are present, but telematically, also creating a new body, a new corporality. This situation, as I said, it's increasingly evident in everyday life, in our current communication mediated processes.
SPECIFIC RESIDENCE PROPOSAL. Therefore, specifically the proposed residence is established as an international distance collaborative project that builds on creation via telepresence: through portable computers, webcams and video projectors, two performers communicate each other remotely to investigate and create in real time in relation to the new possibilities of the body and movement (dance) that allow the telepresence, creating a new aesthetic and forms of expression, sensitive to change and error, and editable computationally. The basic concept of work is related to the body language and movement at distance: how can we dance and perform being together but telematically?, what are the new possibilities, limits and consequences? The dramaturgical line will be completely sensitive to the same residency process, the workspace and to the other artists in residence (if any). Specifically, the work is structured as follows: 1. The applicant artist (Pablo CortĂŠs) does the residence in the proposed space, however, remote work sessions and exploration are performed with the artist Loreto Caviedes who lives in Santiago de Chile. 2. Work sessions are performed for the most part through communication via telepresence, through video conferencing programs, a portable computer with internal microphone, and an external webcam video projector, for each performer. 3. The general director of the artistic proposal is the performer in residence (Pablo CortĂŠs). This involves that, apart from via telepresence sessions, he perform individual sessions in the work space.
RESEARCH STAGES. The residence has two stages of research relating to the devices used: 1. Research based on a portable computer with videoconferencing program, external webcam and video projector, with the objective of put in relation and in contact the much as possible to both performers, giving the illusion of being present and in real physical communication. Spatially it proposes the following (sensitive to changes in relation to real space):
2. The same previous devices more a video editing program in real time (ManyCam). Here the presence of the performer in space (Pablo CortĂŠs) is also mediated through the webcam and video-projected next to other video-projection of the chilean performer. Also adding the utilization of live video editing programs, it would allow edit the two projections in real time, which would boost a richer research in terms of aesthetics and physical possibilities, doing a deeper approach about the body fragmentation and mutation. Spatially it proposes the following (sensitive to changes in relation to real space):
GENERAL METHODOLOGY. In both stages the methodology is the same: 1. Technique testing and exploration of devices used. 2. Exploration and Research: a. Corporal exploration and research through the devices via telepresence with the artist Loreto Caviedes in Chile. b. Individual exploration and research by Pablo CortĂŠs about the use of real space, sound elements, overall aesthetics, etc. 3. Selection of certain corporal and aesthetic materials arising from the previous exploration. It adds a final stage of the residence that is the creation of a script based in the found and selected materials in the previous stages to make a working sample investigated.
MOTIVATION AND JUSTIFICATION. I think it would be a great instance perform this residence in your space because it would allow: -
Open, share and teach creative work of via telepresence, show the new and endless creative possibilities that it grants. To enrich our work through dialogue with other artists. Establish networks between European artists and with Chilean artists too, allowing erase the geographical boundaries, all thanks to the telepresence. Propagate these types of processes and artistic products, especially when there is not much information, text or easily accessible publications about it. Contribute to the growth and dissemination of digital arts, because at be based in easy access devices, can be shared and dialogued not only with artists but anyone in general, from adults to children. If it is possible I propose a practical open workshop about creation via telepresence through the devices used in my residence.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS. 1. Technical requirements: - 1 Multimedia Projector for the first research stage, 2 for the second stage. - Internet connection. 2. -
Technical elements provided by the artists: Two portable computers. 2 external webcams. 1 Multimedia Projector (for use in Chile). Oovoo (videoconference program). ManyCam (video editing program in real time).