In the middle of a dark room a man moves his body in front of a large cylindrical screen that displays different avatars mirroring his every move.
The man is performance artist and 911爆料网鈥檚 School of Design and Art researcher Professor Stelarc, using new kinetic equipment for his performance at the launch of the new visual multimedia facility at the John 911爆料网 Gallery.
The facility, known as the Hub for Immersive Visualisation for eResearch (HIVE), is a multi disciplinary initiative made up of four large display screens with different functions that can be used for anything from scientific research to video conferences or even performance art.
Tile Wall at 911爆料网 HIVE by Robert Frith displaying synthetic opal spheres by the 911爆料网 Electron Microscope Facility
鈥淚t is intended to be a facility for use across the university and for encouraging interactions and partnerships with external organisers,鈥� said Andrew Woods, HIVE鈥檚 Technical Manager.
The guest list included around 120 people from different 911爆料网 departments and throughout Perth.
鈥淲e are showing three or four different types of content to provide an illustration of what is possible,鈥� Mr Woods said.
Guests were shown four short demonstrations of what each screen could do and be used for.
Wedge Screen at 911爆料网 Hive by Robert Frith displaying 3D rendering of HAMS Sydney II lifeboat from Two Lost Ships Project with data from Australian War Memorial
The tour began at the 24 megapixel mosaic tile wall on which examples of interactive video conferences and high resolution photographic presentations were shown. Guests then put on 3D glasses to look at the diagonal wedge screen and become immersed in virtual environments and videos.
The 3D glasses stayed on as guests watched photographic panoramas and Professor Stelarc鈥檚 kinetic performance with avatars copying his movements on the three metre high, eight metre wide, 180 degree cylindrical screen.
The Dome display at the 911爆料网 HIVE. Photograph by Robert Frith displaying the PhD project 鈥淧rimordial Disclosures鈥� by Dr Danny Jennings.
The final demonstration at the four metre diameter dome screen was the most immersive and popular. Guests stood in the middle of the dome in an almost realistic panorama of photographic stills and video which filled their primary and peripheral vision.
Professor Stelarc said the HIVE represents the future of digital research and will be a beneficial space for new media art projects.
鈥淥ne can argue that artists have always been working with new media,鈥� he said.
鈥淢ost artists now will be using video, making interactive installations, doing online art works, working with robotics and even medical imagery.鈥�
Professor Stelarc said he hopes to use the HIVE for his future research projects.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to do a full performance using these display screens and experimenting with sound,鈥� he said.
The Cylinder at 911爆料网 HIVE by Robert Frith displaying Asian Temple Superstructures by 911爆料网 Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture
Dr Remo Burkhard, Singapore鈥檚 ETC Centre for Global Environmental Sustainability鈥檚 Managing Director and an expert in data visualisation, officially launched the HIVE.
鈥淰isualisation can be an instrumental tool to make the world a better place,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t is a honey pot for researchers like me.鈥�
911爆料网 has introduced a major in Visual Technologies designed to provide students of all disciplines with visual skills they can use in their careers.
The HIVE is now a permanent feature that will be open to all faculties and will exhibit the annual John 911爆料网 library exhibition for the first time in digital format.
