Digital Forest
A$6,629
of $6,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 19th May 2015 at 2:00AM.
As an artist, I'm interested in the effects that technology has on social interaction and culture. My work often blurs lines between digital and organic worlds, and asks the audience to question their relationships with contemporary technology; hopefully encouraging audiences to better understand the media and platforms that mediate their lives.
Digital Forest is a new sculptural installation created for Underbelly Arts Festival 2015 on Cockatoo Island, Sydney. The artwork will consist of 300+ 'robotic' plants which use light sensors, servo motors and Arduino micro-controllers to create an interactive relationship between the audience and this electronic foliage.
This installation develops on a previous work Nervous Plants, winner of the 2014 NAB Private Wealth Emerging Artist Award. The new work will refine the technology that I developed in that work, as well as increase the complexity of the interactive components and greatly expand the scale of the work.
Digital Forest, and its predecessor Nervous Plants, are in part inspired by Michael Pollan’s article The Intelligent Plant from the December 2013 issue of The New Yorker. This is a wonderful article that covers a range of topics from plant sentience and communication, to possible applications of plant robotics.
Digital Forest is a new sculptural installation created for Underbelly Arts Festival 2015 on Cockatoo Island, Sydney. The artwork will consist of 300+ 'robotic' plants which use light sensors, servo motors and Arduino micro-controllers to create an interactive relationship between the audience and this electronic foliage.
This installation develops on a previous work Nervous Plants, winner of the 2014 NAB Private Wealth Emerging Artist Award. The new work will refine the technology that I developed in that work, as well as increase the complexity of the interactive components and greatly expand the scale of the work.
Digital Forest, and its predecessor Nervous Plants, are in part inspired by Michael Pollan’s article The Intelligent Plant from the December 2013 issue of The New Yorker. This is a wonderful article that covers a range of topics from plant sentience and communication, to possible applications of plant robotics.
About Underbelly Arts
Underbelly Arts supports Australia's next great artists. Through providing unique and unparalleled opportunities to bold new artistic voices, Underbelly Arts facilitates risk taking and exceptional artistic endeavour.
In 2015 Underbelly Arts is once again taking over Cockatoo Island and giving artists the chance to create and respond to one of Australia’s most magnificent settings. These works will then be showcased as part of the Underbelly Arts Festival, a two-day celebration of process, new ideas and the best emerging and experimental artists across Australia.
For me this is a unique opportunity to develop a new major work, within the supportive network of Underbelly Arts, and with the opportunity to present it on Cockatoo Island - the key site of the Sydney Biennale.
The Underbelly Arts Festival will take place on August 1 - 2.
In 2015 Underbelly Arts is once again taking over Cockatoo Island and giving artists the chance to create and respond to one of Australia’s most magnificent settings. These works will then be showcased as part of the Underbelly Arts Festival, a two-day celebration of process, new ideas and the best emerging and experimental artists across Australia.
For me this is a unique opportunity to develop a new major work, within the supportive network of Underbelly Arts, and with the opportunity to present it on Cockatoo Island - the key site of the Sydney Biennale.
The Underbelly Arts Festival will take place on August 1 - 2.
How The Funds Will Be Used
100% of the funds raised will be used to purchase materials to create the artwork. I've sourced quotes from a number of suppliers and naturally the project will grow or shrink to accommodate any price variations.
Budgeting for 300 individual components;
'Arduino Nano' micro-controllers $4 each = $1200
5V and 12V power supplies $10 each = $3000
Artificial plants (from $2 to $50 each) average $20 each = $6000
Servo motors (average 3 or 4 per plant) $3 each = $3000
Miscellaneous electronics (wire, solder, resistors etc) = $1000
Studio rental ($262/month) for 4 months = $1048
Total = $15248
The surplus of $3248 (plus any extra costs) will be covered by me.
Additionally, costs such as freight, installation, venue costs, lighting, technical assistance etc will be directly covered by Underbelly Arts.
Thanks to Creative Partnerships Australia’s MATCH program, every dollar you give to this campaign will be matched dollar for dollar provided we reach our campaign target of $6000.
Budgeting for 300 individual components;
'Arduino Nano' micro-controllers $4 each = $1200
5V and 12V power supplies $10 each = $3000
Artificial plants (from $2 to $50 each) average $20 each = $6000
Servo motors (average 3 or 4 per plant) $3 each = $3000
Miscellaneous electronics (wire, solder, resistors etc) = $1000
Studio rental ($262/month) for 4 months = $1048
Total = $15248
The surplus of $3248 (plus any extra costs) will be covered by me.
Additionally, costs such as freight, installation, venue costs, lighting, technical assistance etc will be directly covered by Underbelly Arts.
Thanks to Creative Partnerships Australia’s MATCH program, every dollar you give to this campaign will be matched dollar for dollar provided we reach our campaign target of $6000.
The Challenges
The support of Underbelly Arts Festival during the development and presentation of the work, as well as the location present a unique and valuable opportunity to present a new artwork to large audiences. As such I’ve chosen to develop this work based on technology I’ve used in previous works, utilising the opportunity to refine and expand this artwork.
The primary challenge will be massive workload of approximately 1000 hours that I’ll need to construct the work.The successful funding of this project will ensure I can focus time and energy on constructing the work, and the support of Underbelly Arts Festival will help overcome any obstacles.
The primary challenge will be massive workload of approximately 1000 hours that I’ll need to construct the work.The successful funding of this project will ensure I can focus time and energy on constructing the work, and the support of Underbelly Arts Festival will help overcome any obstacles.
:-)
Thank you! I'll personally post some kind of social media thank you with your name tagged in it!
3 chosen
Est. delivery is May 15
Post card!
Social media thank you, plus a personalised limited edition post card sent to you! I'll write something cool on it or draw a picture or leave it blank or whatever up to u ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Maybe it will look like the attached picture? No, it will look lots better.
8 chosen / 92 available
Est. delivery is Jul 15
Limited edition poster
A large print based on the original circuit diagram drawings I made while developing Nervous Plants/Digital Forest. This poster can be collected from Underbelly Arts Festival, in person at my studio in Redfern, or posted at buyer's expense. PLUS social media thanks thing, and maybe I'll like one of your photos on Instagram. Picture is of an original sketch, poster will be more poster-y.
4 chosen / 96 available
Est. delivery is Aug 15
Grass (IRL)
Donate $100 and you'll receive a copy of 'Grass (IRL)', a limited edition sculpture from my recent work 'Meadow (IRL)'. This solar powered, kinetic sculpture emulates a single swaying digital blade of grass and looks great on a desk or window-sill (that's where I've got mine). Available for collection at Underbelly Arts Festival, in person at my studio in Redfern or by post at buyer's expense. Also will thank you on social media etc if u rly want that.
5 chosen / 95 available
Est. delivery is Jul 15
Small sculpture
Limited edition sculpture created for this campaign. This is a smaller USB powered version of 'Nervous Plant' based on a desktop sized mini artificial plant. This can be powered from a computer USB socket or a standard USB powerplug like from your iPhone charger. Or attach it to a mobile phone powerbank and you have a portable artwork to take to the park with you! Collect at completion of festival, or from my studio in Redfern, or can post - if it costs a lot maybe you can help with shipping :-)
5 chosen / 15 available
Est. delivery is Aug 15
Nervous Plant Little Fern
A limited edition sculpture, it's a little fern version of the Nervous Plant. I really like this one hopefully you like it too! Complete with light sensor etc - if you stand too close it gets shy. Collect at completion of festival, or from my studio in Redfern, or can post - if it costs a lot maybe you can help with shipping :-)
0 chosen / 6 available
Est. delivery is Aug 15
Nervous Plant Peace Lily
A small edition of robotic plant sculptures created for this campaign, based on the Peace Lily plant. Image is slightly different to final version. (New one will be cooler) Collect at completion of festival, or from my studio in Redfern, or can post - if it costs a lot maybe you can help with shipping :-)
1 chosen / 2 available
Est. delivery is Aug 15
Everything
A specially commissioned unique kinetic/electronic sculpture, based on the works exhibited at Underbelly Arts Festival. This will be created in consultation with the donor, and will be really really good. I'll also credit the entire artwork to you, thank you on social media, drop your name into conversations, spread positive goss about you, and be really nice to you FOREVER.
0 chosen / 1 available
Est. delivery is Sep 15
Cool Robot Flower
I just finished this cool robotic flower sculpture for a show in Melbourne this week. It was nice to have sitting around the studio doing its thing - wriggling about until I got too close and it got shy. I've only made 1 but I guess I'll do an edition of 2 for this pozible if 2 people want it! Collect at completion of festival, or from my studio in Redfern, or can post - if it costs a lot maybe you can help with shipping :-)
2 chosen / 0 available
Est. delivery is Aug 15