Reimagining Living Ontologies
Reimagining Living Ontologies, an immersive audio-visual data art performance in a 360-degree projection dome.
Reimagining Living Ontologies is an innovative large-scale data art and immersive projection technological piece that uses scientific and artistic approaches in data visualisation systems. This project utilises biophysical data and computer-generated audio-visual scenery inside an immersive 360 video projection dome. The core research questions and objectives that drive this project are: 1) evaluate current data practices within artistic, scientific and economic realms, 2) identify the practices and challenges that are concerned with biophysical data harnessing, storage and use, 3) develop an artistically rich and innovative data art piece that builds on mutually agreeable data transactions and innovative technologies 4) propose, exhibit and perform creative knowledge building systems internationally that are embedded in artistic and research-creation domains. This inter-disciplinary project has been made possible through collaboration between three departments: Computational Arts, Cinema and Media Studies and Music department and two research labs: SLOlab, directed by Prof. Jane Tingley and nD::StudioLab, led by Prof. Mark-David Hosale, all part of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) at York University.
In this proposed project performance piece, there are two collaborators: a third-year PhD student Ilze Briede, a project lead researcher and visual artist from the Digital Media program and violinist and Assistant Professor Dr Amy Hillis from the Music department. Together Briede and Hillis are co-constructing live data, audio and visual environments in the form of an immersive living canvas projected inside 360-degree dome construction. The visuals range from computer-generated abstract forms to 3D models of the human heart mixed with actual world footage captured with a 360 camera in the Don Valley trails in Toronto. This complex blend of natural and artificial sceneries manipulated in real-time by biological data becomes a conversation platform for data narratives, performers and audiences. The project’s developmental stages and rehearsals have been possible with generous support from Prof. Taien Ng-Chan, a director of the immersive dome structures situated in the BetaSpace research lab, which is part of Cinema and Media studies at York University. This project is significant as cross-disciplinary practice connecting specialist knowledge and research opportunities across departments, resulting in research-creation building and knowledge exchange.
Immersive storytelling is an impactful way to connect people and create memorable shared experiences. Reimagining Living Ontologies’ goal is to create a space of contemplation and immersion using a 360-degree surround video-projected landscape by combining real-world footage and computer-generated patterns that express and articulate the intricacies of biophysical data streams. In performance, the data will be gathered from the performer’s body using Pacis Pak hardware and software developed by Prof. Mark-David Hosale and bio-medical designer and artist Alan Macy. In addition, biometric forest environment data will be accessed through data collecting infrastructure entitled Foresta-Inclusive, developed by Prof. Jane Tingley. Together, this data will become creative material that will participate in the composition of visual and sonic narratives projected and played along with the violin music and improvisation pieces by Amy Hillis. The data management and visual compositing system are developed by Ilze Briede using TouchDesigner software that supports interactive and immersive content creation and accessing data streams in real-time. The performances will be accompanied by short presentations that will disseminate the research and methodologies applied in this complex audio-visual real-time data art piece. This research significantly contributes to immersive audio-visual art, Human-Computer-Interaction (HCI), biometric sensing and data visualisation, and real-time data processing for performance and interaction. Therefore, sharing this complex artwork with academic, artistic and broader communities will bring discoveries and insights, and we hope to leave a positive impact on our expected audiences.