Patrick Tresset (FR/UK)
THU September 4, 2014, 9 AM-5:30 PM, 7 PM-11 PM
FRI September 5, 2014, 9 AM-5 PM, 7 PM-11 PM
SAT September 6, 2014, 9 AM-4 PM, 7 PM-11 PM
SUN September 7, 2014, 1 PM-3:30 PM
MON September 8, 2014, 11:30 AM-5:30 PM
Mariendom
In a scene reminiscent of a drawing class, a human is sketched by 5 robots named Paul. Their bodies are old school desks on which the drawing paper is pinned. Their left arms, bolted on the desks, holding black biros, are only able to draw. The robots, stylised minimal obsessive artists, look alike except for their eyes, either obsolete digital cameras, or webcams. The sounds produced by the robot’s motors create an improvised soundtrack.
A short theatrical event
When the subject arrives he is invited to sit in an armchair, an assistant pins sheets of paper onto the robots and wakes each one up. The sitter only sees the robots actions alternating between observing and sketching. For the spectators the sitter is only one of the six actors in a short theatrical event. The drawing sessions last up to 40 minutes. During the exhibition day after day the drawings progressively cover the wall.
Robotic research
The software driving Paul is based on research into the cognitive-perceptual-motor processes involved when artists draw from life and is implemented by Tresset using research from robotics, computer vision and computational creativity. This work is based on Tresset’s doctoral research conducted at Goldsmiths’ Digital Studio, University of London.