Body Pixel

You know, I’m not attached a lot to cell phones (I have it because of the people I like, not for myself… most of the time I leave it at the bottom of my bag or a pocket…)… but my computers… my computers are certainly a sort of my friends… sure, they both have names (as many people do it) … Emily and Corto…  Emily is Asus Eee, and Corto is Fujitsu Siemens.

(No. I’m not a Mac user anymore. Sorry! I used to be at the beginning of the century, but I needed for my work PC. Yeah, I know… I’ve betrayed all open minded middle_wanna_be_high_class_population or digital bourgeoisie. Just kiddin’… OK?! )

Photo: Satomi&Perner Wilson (c)

If you happened to find yourself at home, for example, at  3am ‘begging’ your computer or programme to process something because you desperatly need to finish your work or wanna go to bed, than you can easily conclude that something has happened in a way you perceive devices and codes.

Many smart people wrote some cool stuff about that over the last decade (some even predicted it long time ago), hence I’m gonna stick here to thingz I find more challenging and inspiring examples, more oriented to practice.

Working process on Massage me, photo: Satomi&Perner Wilson (c)

Whereas I had quite busy January, now I have a lot of homework to do for my beloved blog. Touch me festival is on schedule for today. The first project for a small reviewing is going to be lucid artwork ‘Massage Me‘ by Mika Satomi & Hannah Perner-Wilson.

The story goes like this: Two girlz (Austrian and Japanese) hooked up to industrial design, wearable technology and interface cultures went to trip to Transmediale. After an exhausting day (for art pleasure, sure), they both felt like kinda ready for a massage. But than… being probably surrounded with geeks obsessed with pushing buttons (not that ones, unfortunately!) on gadgets… Blip! The idea came out! After only six months their ‘wearable jackets’ were brought to light in September 2007.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-yJpfQu1_Q&feature=PlayList&p=CBE02C8A00E5C1BF[/youtube]

Satomi & Perner-Wilson created a jacket which could be set up as an digital or analogue device. It’s designed from neoprene material with very precisely sewed back which looks like an ornament combining fantasy and cyber culture. Massage me controller / jacket was inspired with the look of Kimono, free style jeans jackets and fashionable feminine waistcoats. Lovely!

Photo: Massage me by Satomi&Perner Wilson (c)

Underneath above mentioned ornaments on the back are placed ‘flexible fabric touchpads’ which are connected via cable to Play Station. It’s play-able with the fighting game Tekken, whilst an analog version is indented to be set up for car racing games.

‘Massage me‘ was presented till now at Ars Electronica 07, Long Night of Science  (Austria);  MB21 (Germany); HOMO LUDENS LUDENS – Locating play in contemporary culture and society’ exhibition; Campus Future; Technology and Sports Fair (Spain); De-Day (China); Transgenesis (Czech); DIY Art and Technology Festival  (Switzerland); Second Skin: Imaginative Designs in Digital & Analog Clothing,Maker Faire (US), etc.

Photo: Massage me by Satomi&Perner Wilson (c)

‘Our intentions behind the piece were also critical of how traditional game interfaces only really involve the gamer and limit the player to very repetitive and minimal movements. But we also really just wanted to make it for our boyfriends to play with.’ (Perner-Wilson&Satomi at talk2myShirt)

What I find compelling is this combination of practical common sense aspects and non-intentional but tricky philosophical questions that stay afterwards. Since this project has been devotedly covered over the web on blogs and e-zines, the background material is absolutely amazing…

Photo: Massage me by Satomi&Perner Wilson (c)

I’ve spent the whole evening reading ‘captain’s log, supplemental’ written by Hannah Perner-Wilson, where you can find every working detail about designing Massage me. It’s a combination of a sketch book and a personal diary… (most recommendable for artists having problems with being funded or with their ego; even an curator could jump in, coz it’s not gonna hurt).

‘Thinking about all the motivation and energy that goes to nothing when an involved game player goes about pushing controller buttons on a mission to get to the next level, we wanted to appropriate that excess energy for another task.’

‘Plus, what about the people not playing? Waiting their turn or just not interested. Combining the two, turing the innocent stander by into the massaged and the game player into a masseur seemed like a logical conclusion to both of us.’

Puppeteer by Mika Satomi & Hannah Perner-Wilson (c)

After they finished Massage me, Mika Satomi & Hannah Perner-Wilson realized that they can work fine as duo, and they also finished an intriguing project entitled ‘Puppeteer’. Coz this is a blog that covers mostly stuff that are connected with performative aspects in arts, I will cover it up in one of my following posts.

p.s. for those interested in pure practice of Massage me, all cuts and sewing patterns could be seen online at Burda style, an open source sewing platform.
p.s.1. Burda rockz!
p.s.2. my mom still have all printed Burdas from seventies.
p.s.3. Burda is cool!