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ralf nuhn : work
| about ralf nuhn
Uncaged
UNCAGED was first exhibited at the V&A - National Museum of Childhood, London (UK) during Mai and June 2004. The choice of this museum reflects the project's aim to be accessible for adults and children alike.UNCAGED is a series of six 'telesymbiotic' installations exploring interrelationships and transitions between screen-based digital environments and their physical surroundings.
The project is motivated by the idea to 'uncage' computer based realities from the confines of their digital existence and to bring the remote computer world closer to our human experience. In particular, UNCAGED is opposed to the notion of immersive Virtual Reality where the physical world is more or less excluded from the participants, but instead attempts to situate the virtual domain within the physical world.
At the same time, UNCAGED seems to highlight the distance between the two domains. The underlying absurdity of the exhibits - or to be more precise, the absurdity of the apparent fusion between their physical and digital components - hints at the fallacy of the initial motivation behind UNCAGED and, in a wider context, questions the idea to seek in virtual worlds a place for meaningful human exchange and experiences.
UNCAGED incorporates different electromechanical devices and automated sculptures which interact, visually and acoustically, with computer generated animations and video images. Most of the exhibits are reminiscent of familiar games or feature modified toys, and participants can playfully engage with the installations via touch screens and tangible custom-made interfaces.
An essential feature of UNCAGED is the relatively simple set-up of each installation. All the digital visuals are displayed on common computer (touch) screens, which interact with their physical surroundings in a very direct way. The idea behind this basic approach is to be particularly referential to our daily-life experiences with screen-based media, i.e. the computer and the television.
UNCAGED is created by Ralf Nuhn in artistic collaboration with Cecile Colle, Jey Malaiperuman and Richard Thomas and with technical support by Magnus Moar, Martin Robinson, John Wale and Williams Ridout.
With kind support by: Arts Council of England, Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts, London, V&A National Museum of Childhood, London.
collection:2004 |
date added:2004-04-30 | enter project
ralf nuhn : about
Ralf Nuhn, born in 1971 near Kassel (D), is a London (UK) and Lille (F) based intermedia artist who has exhibited and performed internationally. He is currently working as a practice-based researcher at the Lansdown Centre for Electronic Arts, London, where he is also completing his PhD in Media Arts.
Up to his early twenties Ralf was involved in various German underground bands providing vocals and sound effects. Since the mid 1990s he has started to work with sound in a 'non-musical' way and initially focused on producing soundtracks for collaborative video installations.
In more recent years, he has created various sound sculptures and intermedia installations often involving a combination of digital and analogue elements. Ralf?s current installation and performance practice is mainly concerned with relationships between the physical world and the virtual world of computers, and has a strong focus on audience participation.
Up to his early twenties Ralf was involved in various German underground bands providing vocals and sound effects. Since the mid 1990s he has started to work with sound in a 'non-musical' way and initially focused on producing soundtracks for collaborative video installations.
In more recent years, he has created various sound sculptures and intermedia installations often involving a combination of digital and analogue elements. Ralf?s current installation and performance practice is mainly concerned with relationships between the physical world and the virtual world of computers, and has a strong focus on audience participation.
ralf nuhn : awards & exhibitions
Selected Exhibitions - Performed Installations - Awards
2004 Algorithmic Revolution, group exhibition, ZKM, Karlsruhe (D).
Other People, group exhibition, Three Colts Gallery, London (UK).
UNCAGED, solo exhibition, V&A - National Museum of Childhood, London (UK).
A-21 (as IMITEME), group exhibition, CASA Gallery, Osaka (J).
Arts Council of England grant. Awarded for the production of UNCAGED.
2003 Are You Looking At Me (as IMITEME), group exhibition, 291 Gallery, London (UK).
Staccato Death/Life, installation, V&A - National Museum of Childhood, London (UK).
Synth?se 2003, exhibition with P. Bosch/S. Simons, Gallery La Box, Bourges (F).
Bagsofsound, web and balloon based sound concert, various worldwide locations.
MAXIS II, group exhibition, ICSRiM, Leeds (UK).
54 Degree North, group exhibition, various locations, Hull (UK).
Pulse Field, group exhibition, Georgia State University Galleries, Atlanta (USA).
2002 London Arts, R&D grant. Awarded for UNCAGED, a telesymbiotic installation.
Three Spuikars, installation and performance, SixFeetUnder, London (UK).
West Orange Blues, performed installation, Bonnington Centre, London (UK).
1st Prize, 29. Int. Competition of Electroacoustic Music and Sonic Art, Bourges (F).
Esemplastic Tuesdays, performed group installation, Royal College of Art, London (UK).
2001 A Mechatronic Sound Track System, performed installation, Field 61, London (UK).
Treat Your Mother Right, performed group installation, Paul Smith Store, London (UK).
One Square Foot, group exhibition, The Hallway Gallery, London (UK).
LimitedNoise Festival, group exhibition, 291 Gallery, London (UK).
Upsample @ Cade 2001, group exhibition, School of Art, Glasgow (UK).
2004 Algorithmic Revolution, group exhibition, ZKM, Karlsruhe (D).
Other People, group exhibition, Three Colts Gallery, London (UK).
UNCAGED, solo exhibition, V&A - National Museum of Childhood, London (UK).
A-21 (as IMITEME), group exhibition, CASA Gallery, Osaka (J).
Arts Council of England grant. Awarded for the production of UNCAGED.
2003 Are You Looking At Me (as IMITEME), group exhibition, 291 Gallery, London (UK).
Staccato Death/Life, installation, V&A - National Museum of Childhood, London (UK).
Synth?se 2003, exhibition with P. Bosch/S. Simons, Gallery La Box, Bourges (F).
Bagsofsound, web and balloon based sound concert, various worldwide locations.
MAXIS II, group exhibition, ICSRiM, Leeds (UK).
54 Degree North, group exhibition, various locations, Hull (UK).
Pulse Field, group exhibition, Georgia State University Galleries, Atlanta (USA).
2002 London Arts, R&D grant. Awarded for UNCAGED, a telesymbiotic installation.
Three Spuikars, installation and performance, SixFeetUnder, London (UK).
West Orange Blues, performed installation, Bonnington Centre, London (UK).
1st Prize, 29. Int. Competition of Electroacoustic Music and Sonic Art, Bourges (F).
Esemplastic Tuesdays, performed group installation, Royal College of Art, London (UK).
2001 A Mechatronic Sound Track System, performed installation, Field 61, London (UK).
Treat Your Mother Right, performed group installation, Paul Smith Store, London (UK).
One Square Foot, group exhibition, The Hallway Gallery, London (UK).
LimitedNoise Festival, group exhibition, 291 Gallery, London (UK).
Upsample @ Cade 2001, group exhibition, School of Art, Glasgow (UK).
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