PROJECT OUTLINE

The advent of the sci-fi body becoming reality. Humans and machines / Animacy and the ethics of human-robotic life / The co-evolution of forms

The soon to arrive robot of the future is already being made within the adaptation, reworking and augmentation of our own bodies. Prosthetics, implants, laser surgery to improve eyesight, gene manipulation of babies in the womb to remove defective cells are becoming the norm. The advent of surgically enabled bodies within sporting events becomes more and more highlighted. “Is it self-mutilation when you’re getting a better limb?” The outcome of such reconfiguring of the body highlights the larger question to what constitutes humanness. When does a human cease to be one and become something else? And in light of these new technologies when does a robot start to become human? What constitutes the essential features of being human in comparison with being a robot?

Being alive is one of the major criteria that distinguish human beings from machines, but since robots exhibit movement and intentional behaviour, the category of “sort of alive” becomes increasingly used.

The idea for this work initially started in 2006/07 when I was the Asialink artist in Resident at Future University (FUN), Hakodate, Japan. At this time I began research into artificial intelligence, autonomous and multi-agent systems, evolutionary and chemical robots, neural networking and the mental and physical spaces that are anticipated and generated from these architectures. I spoke with many scientists/researchers in Hakodate and also at the Waseda University in Tokyo who were working on such future technologies to develop my understanding to the amazingly pain staking advances and creative methodologies in mimicking human abilities within the physical environment and was very curious to the backyard mechanics that was equally evident within their specific “research creations’.

Subsequently I became quite intrigued by the highly performative nature of many of these experiments and for TEACHING A NEW DOG OLD TRICKS, I aim to develop a work that explores this intrigue of old and new technologies and philosophies on the blurry edge between backyard mechanics and credible science. Investigating the performativity of human/robot relations and the emotional states that are inherent within such new forms and tests of stimuli.

I have invited Paul Granjon to co-develop this work as his numerous and ongoing projects directly tackle this line of investigation through his creation of home made robots and performative scenarios to develop his discourse on the co-evolution of humans and machines.

This work is to be developed in co-production with the Campbelltown Arts Centre, NSW as part of the 2010/2011 Contemporary Dance Program / The Interdisciplinary Project.

START IDEAS

I recently bought Rocket the Wonder Dog from Fischer Price, an off the shelf robot dog for children and have been trying to teach it ever since - Hence the title

David Levy's book, Love and Sex with Robots proposes how robots will soon become our future partners. In it he outlines human psychological relations to objects/ machines and the history of mechanics and stimulation both past and present.


I am also very curious to the Hal suit developed by Prof. Sankai and his laboratory at University of Tsukuba and what that starts to mean to human ability and function. This suit has also gone into commercial production.

Also there are these strap-on devices called POWERIZER that give one the ability to run and jump greater heights and distances. I could image to try and jump/move in a room where the ceiling is too low. To start a discussion to how architecture will start to change as the body starts to improve and change its characteristics and abilities.

To create a series of augmented body solo's by reworking a number of famous dance solos and perform them with some type of technological body aid.

Another initial thought is just to make a room full of robots and then co-occupy this place to see what would develop. To explore the interrelation and exchange of roles between servant and server.

The sci-fi novel Options by Robert Sheckley, has a man linked to a bewildered and incompetent robot trying to traverse a unknown land.

The robot Petit Mal from Simon Penny (AUS) is a highly unstable robot that explores our emotional links with machines through its fragile animal like movements.


Whilst the initial idea is to produce a performance work for a gallery/stage, I would be very interested to work on curating a forum for people working in this field. So potentially it can become a touring exhibition with a performative component.