The work, entitled Network Planet Ensemble, is an interactive multi-user virtual 3D world on the Internet which bases on Music of Planets (Harmonice Mundi)by Johannes Kepler. Viewers can transform themselves into asteroid avatars, move in the space freely and play an ensemble together, listening to his music. A viewer might meet other asteroid avatars (other viewers). Then, all the viewers who do not even know their names become planets of the solar system and play the unexpected ensemble. This work bases on Kepler's idea that he adapted the construction of the universe into the musical scale in order to demonstrate the harmony of the world (Harmonice Mundi). It likens Internet to the vast universal space and disposes client computers connected to the server computer as an asteroid at the virtual universe.

Note we do not offer any technical support or advice regarding the use of this project. We have decided to link to his project.

How long have you been working in this area? For 3 years. Were you an artist/ musician first who got into using computers/the net or did you respond to the net in >an artistic way? I was a system engineer. I didn't respond to the net in an artistic way. What/who has influenced you in your work? (themes, other artists etc) mysticism Are there any other artists covering the same field as you? Kazushi Mukaiyam (http://www.kazushi.net/) With regard to 'soundtoys' especially, why do you think the audio visual metaphor is so key to the net? Because the net is World-wide virtual society. Could you come up with a definition of "soundtoys"? Does the net promotes visual awareness that is unique to it? Yes. How novel do you feel generative music is? The accidental nature of the computer Would you describe yourself as a multimedia artist, a net.artist, programmer, or none of the above? New media artist What software do you use most? JAVA regards, Tomo'o SHIMOMURA New Media Artist/Engineer http://tomoo.net/ http://www3.osk.3web.ne.jp/~tomoo/works/networkplanet/ mailto:tomoo@tomoo.net