Open Source Art from DIVVY/dual

21 Sep 2006 Category: Events & Exhibitions, Internet, Worldwide

Open Source Art from DIVVY/dual

DIVVY/dual #1 - Type Trace

The benefits of open source software are becoming more and more apparent in the lives of everyday computer users. With open source, anyone can contribute to a software development project to make the software better - creating high-quality software that is then free to download and use (e.g. the Firefox web browser). The concept of open source is so strong that it could have applications in areas other than software development. Dominick Chen of the ICC is beginning a new series of events entitled DIVVY/dual that seeks to explore how open source ideology can apply to the world of art.

Interview by Jon

The first event in the DIVVY/dual series is taking place right now (details at the end of this article) and combines some fundamental open source concepts with media art. The piece is entitled Type Trace, and media artist Takumi Endo together with engineer Shinya Matsuyama have created an installation that allows visitors to interact with and contribute to the piece, challenging the boundary between audience and artist.


PingMag loves macs too!

A large graphic of a keyboard on one wall clicks and clacks as text is typed…

The room was stark, minimalist and filled with the clackety-clack sound of keys being pressed. DIVVY/dual organiser, Dominick Chen, was at hand to tell PingMag what it’s all about…

PingMag: Dominick, there is a bank of computers in front of me projecting words onto a wall - can you explain what’s going on?

Dominick: With this installation Takumi Endo wanted to explore the process of thought during typing - and in a broader sense, how we communicate electronically. Endo-san is very interested in the way in which we communicate and with Type Trace our thought processes are freely viewable by anyone. In front of you there is a set of computers and anyone can sit down and type anything they please.

The software that Endo-san and Matsuyama-san created not only records what you type, but it also records errors that you self-correct, the speed at which you type different words and the pauses in between them. It then relays this information back in a visual form - for example, words you took a long time to type appear bigger than others. This is very different to the way we normally view text such as in an email, which is kind of sanitised and clean - so you lose some of the text’s communicative qualities.

PM: So it’s kind of like watching and contributing to a shared thinking process?

D: Exactly and of course, the notion of shared, contributed content fits nicely with the overall ideology of open source. However, we are going even further with the open source theme. For Type Trace, we will be releasing the software Endo-san and Matsuyama-san created as open source code - we’re really looking forward to seeing how the development community chooses to modify the software. Also, all of the content that you type into Type Trace will be “open source”, under a Creative Commons license and will be available for anyone to download and modify from the web.


DIVVY/dual

All content typed into Type Trace is “open source”, under a Creative Commons license.

PM: I like the low barrier to entry - you just sit down and type. Was simplicity an explicit objective?

D: Very much so, since low barriers to entry means larger participation, resulting in more data for Type Trace. As an example, say you decide to “open source” a piece of video footage. You could put it up on the web and say “ok everyone, go crazy and show me what you can do with this!” but the participants would have to know how to edit video, have the right software etc. With text, it’s so much more basic and impulsive - everyone knows how to type an email or a document and that’s exactly what this feels like. In that way I think the results are much more honest, and diverse.

Type Trace’s software runs on a mac and was coded in about 2 weeks - with engineer Shinya Matsuyama frantically coding some parts on the train!

PM: With open source software, the overall goal is to make the software better, by letting everyone help. What would you say is the overall goal of open source art?

D: That’s a good question because obviously, we are not saying to people “make this art better”. You can’t say that. Apart from the question of subjectivity, it’s also a little rude to ask people to “improve” on an artist’s creation. With DIVVY/dual there are really two layers to the project, the “system” layer and the “message” layer.

The “system” layer functions very much like conventional open source. For example, the software that we develop and use will be open source, freely downloadable from our website for people to modify or improve upon. So there, the overall goal is to improve, and provide better tools for people to use.


Big letters…

…small letters

Someone took a long time to type ‘P’…

Big Dream

The “message” layer is more about how the DIVVY/dual series makes you feel and the overall goal here is diversification of expressions and experiences, via events like this that encourage audience contribution. With Type Trace, as a contributor you know that your type speed and timing directly affects the appearance of your text, so in a way you are “forced” to type, which in turn influences how you think. As a viewer you are able to get a much richer understanding of how people think, based on the appearance of their texts.

The Type Trace software feels a lot like a simple word processor

PM: Thinking ahead, will all of the DIVVY/dual events be based on technology and computers? Can open source apply to “analogue” art too?

D: I think it’s going to be both challenging and interesting to think about how we can apply open source concepts to non-digital art, and perhaps collaborate with some Japanese contemporary artists. Naturally though, it’s easier for us to work with computers because that is our means of distributing and publishing the open source content. Most of the events will be so intrinsically linked with the themes of online distribution and participation that computers will be a necessary component.

Thank you Dominick for your time! The first DIVVY/dual event - Type Trace - is open until Saturday 23rd September and is showing in Ginza, Tokyo. Full details here.

35 Comments

  1. [...] Update 2006-09-22: PingMag coverage: Open Source Art from DIVVY/dual [...]

    Posted by: chosaq » DIVVY/dual on September 22nd, 2006 at 1:29 pm

  2. I really like how the artist has created a blank canvas that allows the audience to paint the picture in a non intimadating “fun” way. What is more intersting is the possible implications this kind of art installation has. How can an open source tool like this change the way that people interact within a community based art project. Exciting.

    Posted by: Brac on September 22nd, 2006 at 1:34 pm

  3. till the 23rd… sounds like i missed the event but am very glad that i can read about it here!

    Posted by: konomi on September 24th, 2006 at 9:03 pm

  4. [...] For more information and feedback on the event, see the reviews in PingMag and Japan Times. [...]

    Posted by: iCommons » Blog Archive » Updating the art world with new media on January 30th, 2007 at 9:37 pm

  5. Excellent. As an aspiring illustrator this article was really inspirational. Thank you Ping Mag. I love your site. :)

    Posted by: bursa evden eve nakliyat on March 31st, 2009 at 6:58 pm

  6. Maurers only weaken, belly, waist and hip area also gets rid of fat in areas such as the still.

    Posted by: maurers on February 22nd, 2011 at 7:19 am

  7. A very resourcesfull page;great website.

    Posted by: ovulation calendar gender selection on May 30th, 2011 at 7:45 am

  8. Beautiful website.

    Posted by: gardens on June 1st, 2011 at 10:30 pm

  9. Thanks for the information about this topic.

    Posted by: innovative healthcare on June 15th, 2011 at 3:31 am

  10. Here’s another great article on the subject: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/why-do-we-need-personal-development-to-be-successful

    Posted by: personal development on June 16th, 2011 at 5:22 am

  11. Energie rinnovabili Fai da te

    Posted by: energie rinnovabili on June 17th, 2011 at 11:23 am

  12. Excellent details regarding cell phone location and in particular tracking cellphone.Looking forward to having access to new technology as it becomes available.

    Posted by: Cell Phone Location on June 22nd, 2011 at 3:28 pm

  13. Thanks for the information about this topic.

    Posted by: Contact Strategy Marketing on July 10th, 2011 at 8:03 pm

  14. If u like soccer visit us!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: Soccer on July 19th, 2011 at 1:14 am

  15. süper site

    Posted by: goruntulu sohbet on July 25th, 2011 at 10:37 pm

  16. This is a extermely nice article and very interesting. I have bookmarked and will check back often. Thank you for your contribution.

    Posted by: Weight Program to Lose Weight on July 30th, 2011 at 11:44 am

  17. I think you convey some interesting factors that not too many individuals discuss . It’s interesting to see it from this perspective. I really enjoyed the post!

    Posted by: Bill Poulos on August 10th, 2011 at 5:19 pm

  18. I have never seen it from that perspective. Luckily there are multiple ways to do things. I always like to undertsand a new means of looking at it. Thanks for the information.

    Posted by: Examples Viral Marketing on August 17th, 2011 at 12:58 pm

  19. I really would like to learn more information about your business, what is it and why is it important.

    Posted by: Perfect Pitch Recognition on October 11th, 2011 at 12:09 am

  20. I am impressed with your website and interested in collectibles. Finding nutcrackers of some interest as well as other collectibles.

    Posted by: nutcracker on November 2nd, 2011 at 6:29 am

  21. I enjoyed studying this post. I am completely satisfied to search out this put up as a result of I’m interested within the topic.

    Posted by: christian louboutin on November 10th, 2011 at 2:26 am

  22. Good Article …. Excellent !!!! visit automotive :-bd

    Posted by: Information Automotive on November 11th, 2011 at 10:27 pm

  23. Collecting figurines has become more popular lately and many people are turning to the internet to locate them.

    Posted by: Figurines on November 20th, 2011 at 2:15 pm

  24. Thanks for the interesting post. I swear, you learn something new every day.

    Posted by: professional bra fitting on November 23rd, 2011 at 7:13 am

  25. Check out our Cyber Monday deals on everything from cell phones with service to no-contract phones, unlocked phones, Bluetooth headsets, cases, chargers, and more

    Posted by: technology on November 28th, 2011 at 4:23 pm

  26. Anuncie no Katavendo e usufrua DE TODOS OS BENEFICIOS OFERECIDOS, NO KATAVENDO voce encontra: anuncio, anuncios, anuncie, anunciar, classificado, classificados, classificados gratis, anuncios classificados gratis, imovel, imoveis, autos, automoveis, automovel, veiculos, carros, motos, celulares, video-games, computadores, dominios, cameras digitais, livros, quadinhos, revistas, cds, cd, dvds, DVD, hd, informatica, eletro-eletronicos, eletronicos, audio, video, decoracao, joias, relogios, esportes, lazer, negocios, filmadoras, videos, selos, moedas, ferramentas, antiguidades, raridades, oportunidades, promocoes, empregos, curriculos, servicos, artigos esportivos, empresas, produtos, vestuario, revistas, Sao Paulo, sp, Rio de Janeiro, rj, parana, pr, classificados, katavendo, kata-vendo, catavendo, cata-vendo, an�ncios, gr�tis, gratuitos, gratuitamente, empregos, oportunidades, comprar, vender.

    Posted by: An�ncios Gr�tis, An�ncios Classificados - Kata-Vendo on November 29th, 2011 at 12:25 pm

  27. I was Mtalbtvn

    Posted by: reza atayee fard on December 4th, 2011 at 7:20 am

  28. Travel Trips has been succesfully catering to travellers across the globe with its well established and secured Global Hotel Reservation System. Our 24X7 customer care support is there all along to help people with their hotel reservations, cancellations and other related issues. Featured are some interesting testimonials from our valued customers vouching for the credibility of Travel Trips.

    Posted by: Travel Trips on December 6th, 2011 at 3:36 am

  29. สารสกัดจากธรรมชาติต่างๆ ที่นำมาเป็นอาหารเสริมเช่น กลูต้าไธโอน,แอลคาร์นิทีน, น้ำมันรำข้าว, กรดอะมิโนต่างๆ และอื่นๆ นั้นมีประโยชน์ต่อร่างกายของเราอย่างไรบ้าง

    Posted by: อาหารเสริม on December 6th, 2011 at 10:50 pm

  30. Thank you so much for this content, Im so lucky and glad that I found this website, Please keep this website going and I will keep

    Posted by: The Visayas on December 10th, 2011 at 4:20 am

  31. What do you think about the last comment? I’d love to hear from the author.

    Posted by: dc tours on January 3rd, 2012 at 2:45 am

  32. Thank you. I’ll sharing the post at my twitter.

    Posted by: Laptop Özellikleri on January 12th, 2012 at 8:27 am

  33. The open source projects is probably one of the best things for developers and users of the http://www…...
    tanks for the article

    Posted by: diseño de páginas web Madrid on January 12th, 2012 at 3:16 pm

  34. Thanks for this post. It is very useful. I hope you will write an article. This issue again.

    Posted by: illslick on January 17th, 2012 at 6:11 am

  35. Online store Stopitnow Ego-T

    Posted by: ηλεκτρονικο τσιγαρο on January 19th, 2012 at 5:10 pm

  • Share and Enjoy:
  • del.icio.us
  • digg
  • Fark
  • NewsVine
  • RawSugar
  • Reddit
  • YahooMyWeb
Previously on PingMag