Technologist for Art

The bleeding edge

Every day someone somewhere tries to solve a problem by creating new technology, a new solution or a new application.  It is hard to keep up with everything, but we dedicate every week some time to new technologies scouting. I read a lot and I keep an eye on some websites where the flow of information about the innovations and experiments related to “making” (digital fabrication, electronics and so on) is abundant. I also look at the Kickstarter and Indiegogo tech campaigns, prepared to pledge what I think is a real innovation. 

The Looking Glass Portrait, the technology that inspired Raghava KK for his Power Fluff Toys was pledged as very early bird in their Kickstarter Campaing. This allowed me to be able to learn and work on its potential for almost one year and be ready to offer him the solution with enough experience and know-how.

Some people spend money on clothing, others on fine dining, and I spend money on technology and tech gadgets. I have piled up quite some stuff and my electronics lab has many parts and special components that are just waiting for the right application. 

I source from many countries and sometimes I just do random searches on Chinese portals to find interesting new products, filling up my cart with items that inspire my creativity. Anytime something comes in the mail, I play with it, write code to see how it works in real life if it is a sensor or an actuator, and try to imagine what I could do with it.

Engineers vs. artists

You never know which technologies are developing in some laboratory or in some maker’s den. Only keeping an open mind and a scientific approach it is possible to catch the changes and the innovation as they happen. Being too early is like being too late, so it is important to be aware of the early developments and be ready to understand when their time is come. For art, however, sometimes the need for “awesomeness” justifies the adoption of  technologies still in the lab, not yet available as mass product. Technology trade shows often bring these “lab experiments” to the public, but I have to say that engineers are excellent at making working demos of these technological achievements, but often lack of the imagination and creativity necessary to add that special ingredient which creates empathy and a connection with the visitors. 

Someone that speaks both languages, the one of art and the one of engineering, is the person that could bridge the two worlds and allow a profitable and practical collaboration. Let me help you in this: let me be your technologist!