EXPO966, Scarborough
17/06/2005 - 20/06/2005
for EXPO966 Sonic Art Network annual exhibition/festival
An interactive installation enabling real-time control of both sonic and visual representation of the voice
This ongoing research project aims to explore digital-human relationships at the edge of Language. Members of the public are encouraged to construct a non verbal dialogue with my virtual self.
VINST is a highly sensitive vocal instrument consisting of my body image displaying points of sonic sensitivity that can be triggered and played by the viewer.
VINST vocabulary is based on vowels used as pure tones combined with consonants as percussive and rythmic interventions, the natural sounds of emotions (laughing, crying, sighing,….) and sensations ( pain, pleasure…) and a few phonemes which are unique to VINST. Around 50 different sounds
The sounds are pre- or non-linguistic, and are (usually) somewhat anatomically appropriate. The vocabulary is in evolution, as is its accompanying system of annotation.
Users will find that VINST responds to touch but also to mood and sensibility and is capable of reacting quite unexpectedly.
The interactive installation was presented at
– EXPO966 Sonic Art Network annual exhibition/festival, 17-20 June 2005, Scarborough.
– London Symphony Orchestra St Luke’s community festival July 2005, London.
– Die Station, May 2006, Neufelden, Austria.
The First prototype of VINST appeared in
Performance Research volume 9 no. 2, June 2004, “on the page“ issue.
www.soundtoys.net since April 2005.
Programmed in Max MSP and Jitter by Sebastian Lexer
with financial support from Arts Council London and UCCA research Fund
VINST2
A unique vocal instrument, part human part virtual – a body without organs – responding to touch but also to mood and sensibility. It consists of my body image displaying points of sonic sensitivity. The sounds are pre- or non- linguistic, and are based on how the body reacts to touch and how it produces sound. I personally derive as much pleasure playing (with) my virtual self as from watching others doing so.