2016 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Study on wet a-life art in the context of living technology
| Project/Area Number |
16K16741
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
カストロ ホアン・マヌエル 東京大学, 大学院総合文化研究科, 学術研究員 (60759794)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | Art / Wet artificial life / Protocell / Hybrid art / Life-like / Biodesign / Workshop / Intl. collaboration |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The first period of this investigation was focused on two main areas:
1. Studies on the history of wet a-life art. This phase was centered on the historical background of wet artificial life and the interactions between this field and different artistic practices (e.g. new media art, hybrid art, biodesign). Particular attention was given to the current construction of chemical systems with life-like properties, i.e. protocells. During the investigation, there was constant discussion on aesthetics and artificial life with Professor Steen Rasmussen (University of Southern Denmark) and Professor Akihiro Kubota (Tama Art University). The outcomes generated by this phase include: 1) a research collaboration with the Dept. of Information Design at Tama Art University with the aim to develop a workshop on art and wet a-life; 2) Documentation of artistic projects.
2. Analysis and classification of wet a-life art. This second phase evaluated the specific ways in which art assimilates, represents and transforms the methods and technologies of wet artificial life and how art contributes to the dissemination, criticism and evaluation of this knowledge. The main emphasis was on the development of a vocabulary for describing and analyzing the characteristics of these artworks and its aesthetic relevance for art and design. The outcomes generated by this phase include: 1) a lecture on aesthetics and wet a-life at the Robotics, Evolution and Art Laboratory, IT University of Copenhagen in Denmark; 2) elaboration of a conceptual framework to describe and analyze wet a-life artworks.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
During the first period of this investigation it was possible to:
-Create a vocabulary to describe and analyze wet a-life artworks.
-Map the fragment history of wet a-life art.
-Document artistic projects, experiments and scientific investigations based on protocells and chembots (hybrids of chemical and robotic systems) in Japan and abroad.
-Establish a collaboration with the Dept. of Information Design at Tama Art University to develop an international workshop
-Discuss the theoretical findings of this investigations with international experts. There was constant discussion with Professor Rasmussen (The Center for Fundamental Living Technology, University of Southern Denmark) and Laura Beloff (REAL Laboratory, IT University of Copenhagen).
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
The main objectives of this investigation for the second term (2017-2018) are the development of an international workshop and the publication of results. During May and June (2017), it is planned to develop an international workshop on art and wet a-life at Tama Art University. This collaborative workshop focuses on the latest artistic practices and scientific investigations exploring technologies with life-like properties, i.e. protocells, self-propelled droplets and hybrids between robotics and artificial life chemistry. The goals of the workshop are: 1) to develop novel conceptual frameworks and practical tools with which the intersection of art and artificial life in the 21st century can be better understood; 2) to open a space for creative experimentation and debate around the increasing development of life-like technologies as well as broader issues of life and autonomy, agency and artificial evolution.
During June, it is planned to develop a website with the contents of the workshop and information about this investigation. Both the workshop and the website aim to communicate to the general public about the existence of wet a-life art and generate discussion on its social, cultural and historical dimensions.
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