Paola Tognazzi starts off the artist residency programme at Plataforma Cero
The Italian creator will develop an application for 'Weareable_SuperNow' enabling the making of music through body movement
Paola Tognazzi in a workshop about his 'Weaeable_SuperNow'
This week the Italian artist Paola Tognazzi starts off the artist residency programmes at LABoral’s Plataforma Cero. Centro de Investigación, Producción y Recursos [Centre of Research, Production and Resources] at LABoral. Her work is based on the development of an application for Wearable_SuperNow, a tool device developed by her company, Wearable Dynamics, which uses Nintendo Wii sensors to capture body movements and convert it into sound.
Wearable_SuperNow is an interactive musical tool which captures movement and consists of four bracelets with Wii console sensors on them that the users wear on their bodies. These sensors record the data produced by their movements and send it via Bluetooth (wireless) to a computer where it is immediately analysed and converted into sound so that each movement produces and modulates a different sound. This device allows the participants to record live texts and audio, to choose which sound to introduce into each sensor and tempo, delay and volume effects from three different degrees of sensitivity calibration. They can also save the library configurations, create storyboards and modulate time and speed with the movement of their bodies. A completely intuitive tool that can be used by all audiences, this device provides a sensorial experience of producing and projecting music in the room by moving the body freely. It is used for installations and development workshops for physical awareness and creativity.
During her residency at LABoral, which will last until 10th April, the artist will work on the creation of an application to migrate the system to iPods/iPhone/iPad; replacing Wiis, using a RJDJ platform that allows the programming of interactive music for these devices using Pure Data programming language. With the result that experimentation in developing new audio devices and interactive experiences which makes use of a wide variety of mobile tool resources -microphones, reproduction of audio files, acceleration data and geo-localisation, touch screens, local network sockets and the Internet- will be accessible from any operative system (Windows, Mac or Linux). In addition, RJDJ offers a distribution network for the resulting pieces, providing the opportunity for its immediate diffusion to a large number of users.
Paola Tognazzi studied industrial design at IED [European Institute of Design] in Milan and Philosophy at the University of Bologna. In 2001 she graduated from MTD and SNDO Art Academies in Amsterdam, specialising in theatre management with interactive audiovisual installations. She worked as assistant to Sasha Waltz at Nobody, with Min Tanaka in Japan, and as executive producer of interactive operas at the Studio Azzurro, Milan. In 2008 she founded Wearable_Dynamics Research.
Her work explores the sensuality in interactive systems and how to use sound to navigate and create personal and poetically intimate ambiences. She creates playful and artistic experiences through collective games that involve -both physically and emotionally- the audience and foster the development of sensorial awareness. Currently researching accessible DIY (Do it Yourself) structures and technologies for the development of interactive games for people with physical disabilities.
Her audiovisual interactive installations Autopsy, W_Space; Wearable_SuperNow, Por qué tenemos órganos pares y sólo un corazón? [Why Do We Have Organs in Pairs and Only One Heart?] have been shown at STEIM and Melkweg in Amsterdam; Sophiensaele (Berlin), Bek (Bergen, Norway), Medilab-Prado (Madrid), Berlin´s Transmediale Festival, Madrid´s Matadero, La Casa Encendida, La Noche en Blanco; at Monty Evolution Festival, Milan In Digital; Universidad Complutense (the Complutense University, Madrid), Feria RetroMadrid (RetroMadrid Fair), Camon, Arte Beijing (Pekín), Spain´s Instituto Cervantes, Teatro Pradillo (Madrid) , CSA la Tabacalera (Madrid), Casa de las Conchas (Salamanca), Madrid´s Festival Avlab and ExperimentaClub. Since 2009 she has led workshops on Wearable_dynamics: Applying creativity/Defying interactivity in several countries in Asia and Europe.
