Artist: Morgan Rauscher
Year: 2009
Content: Zeugen is an interactive and new media electric artwork consist of 32 human cast robotic faces and a face tracking system, which together follow the movements of viewers in a gallery space.When the viewer look at the artwork, in the same time it also being "seen" by the artwork.
Reflective Questions
1. What attracted you to this picture of interactive art in the first place?
At the first glance, I think that most probably attract me is the 32 human cast robotic faces can follow the movements of viewers in a gallery space. Besides, is the eyes color, face shape, animatronics motion gestures made by the robotic eyes. When the viewer get closer to the artwork may realize that the face have unique features.
2. How did you feel when you first saw this interactive art?
For me, I think it is a new immersive media sensations can result from the interactions between viewers and electronic artwork and strongly achieve the interactions between human being and electronic machines.
3. What elements made this interactive art successful in engaging you?
The high tech, kinetic tech side and the polished face side are both important visual elements. The role of the participant of Zeugen has twofold when the viewer approaches the artwork, the 32 artificial eye lids will open. But if the viewer is looking at the tech side of the artwork, their interactivity role is absent. Viewer can experience a visceral event and are motivated to internet and play with the artwork.
4. What was the "wow" factor for you?
The "wow" factor for me on this artwork is Zeugen has a technical function like the artwork uses face tracking software to locate and follow faces so that the robotic eyes can make eye contact with the viewer. All the robotic eyes will follow viewer's movements when the viewer's face is recognize to the face tacking software. To me it is a creatives exploration into the sensation of seeing and being seen.
5. If there is one thing that you want to add to this interactive artwork, what would it be?
If possible, I would like to add mouths into this artwork and it can produce sound to share the randomize ambient soundtrack. With this play on visual and audio, these artwork can be more attractive compare to the previous one.
