Based On Birds launch hand-crafted drawing machine in Sydney shop front for release of ABC series The Gradual Demise of Phillipa Finch
To accompany the release of the ABC TV’s new animated series for adults (The Gradual Demise of Phillipa Finch, narrated by Toni Colette), Sydney-based interactive media troupe, Based On Birds, have combined the web, mobile phones and a hand-crafted drawing machine to give audiences the opportunity to use their emotions to contribute to a large collective artwork in an unprecedented cross-platform experience.
To celebrate the launch of The Waking Heart machine, there will be a reception held at Berkelouw Books in Paddington, on Tuesday the 12th of April at 6.30pm, with series creator Emma Magenta in attendance.
The Waking Heart machine, which currently resides in the front window of Berkelouw Books in Paddington, is a curious robotic device that takes input from users of the Phillipa Finch website and iPhone application, and pens the output automatically onto a large continuous paper roll.
In order to control the machine, users are invited to create aHeartwork – a visual representation of how they are currently feeling -by answering a series of whimsical questions, and by recording soundand movement. Each unique Heartwork is sent direct to The Waking Heartmachine, where it is processed and drawn.
The activity of the machine is captured on a live video stream,so that those who are not able to visit it in person can watch in realtime as their creations are sketched into existence. The result is anintricate and constantly evolving map of the user community’scollective emotional state.
The TV series tells the journey of Phillipa Finch – a young woman whois re-awakening from her own emotional death, having arrived there dueto the accumulated weight of her life’s disappointments.
Based On Birds creative director David Kaldor says: “In creating apublic platform for the sharing of emotion, The Waking Heart machineconnects people with the simple ideals of the Phillipa Finch story: anappreciation of life’s ups and downs, and an awareness of our fellowhuman.”
Combining digital technologies with traditional art-making practices,Based On Birds blur the boundaries between the physical and the virtualin order to immerse users in rich story-telling experiences.
Already over 5000 Heartworks have been created. To create your own, and watch as The Waking Heart machine draws it live click here.
2 Comments
Nice work boys.
Great unique, makes me want to check out the website, Australia needs more of this i.e no sponsored jokes in sight, great