Venus #1
It is a piece that I made in 1998, and on which I reworked a few times up to recently. It is visible on my web site, but I also show it around on selected group exhibition sites (like www.incident.net soon). I hope that you like it. Note that you have to be online to see it the first time, as it autodownloads an Xtra from the net.

Here is a short description of it:

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Venus #1 is one of the variations of my works on artificial beings. I first created Venus #1 so that she could dance live during a concert in 1998. I wanted a creature with a real body, which internal states and forces would be directly influenced by the music. The influence between the music and the image happens at a deep physical level: the simulated muscles of Venus #1 are triggered by physical dynamic properties of the live sound. Venus #1 belongs to the realm of what I call the aesthetic of the cause : it is the cause of what we perceive that creates the aesthetic sensation.
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How do you define "soundtoys" ?

The exploration of a toy by a young human is the basis of the human relationship with the world : it is about making sense.

On a personal level, why do you make this work?

I explore the aesthetic potentiality of algorithmic systems.

What is you project and your work about?

Venus #1 is one of the variations of my works on artificial beings. I first created Venus #1 so that she could dance live during a concert in 1998. I wanted a creature with a real body, which internal states and forces would be directly influenced by the music. The influence between the music and the image happens at a deep physical level: the simulated muscles of Venus #1 are triggered by physical dynamic properties of the live sound. Venus #1 belongs to the realm of what I call the aesthetic of the cause : it is the cause of what we perceive that creates the aesthetic sensation.

How long have you been working in this area?

Since 1995.

Were you an artist/ musician first who got into using computers/the net, or did you respond to the net as a medium in an artistic way?

I was first a programmer, who decided to make artworks using programming as a first class matter.

What/ who has influenced you in your work? (themes, other artists etc)

Aristotelian metaphysics and the great abstract painters are my two horizons.

Are there any other artists covering the same field as you?

Some related artists are Norman T. White, David Rokeby, Simon Penny, etc...

Do you see this work as art?

Of course. It is its raison d'?tre.

With regard to 'soundtoys' especially, why do you think the audio visual form is so key to the net?

I dont think it is key to the net. I think it is key to computer art, which facilitates the exploration of multiple level interactions between sound and images.

What defines the aesthetics of new interactive art.?

What software really introduces are systems with internal levels of abstractions. This is something that no other medium offers.

How important is the visual aspect in the 'new' relationship of the audio visual.?

I think image is going to be less and less important, leaving room for the relationship with internal processes, through sound, image, interaction and any other perceivable mean.

Does the net promote visual awareness that is unique to it?

No, most of the current visual creations on the net is directly inspired by television and advertising.

How novel do you feel generative music and interactivity is?

As such, generative music and interactivity are a few hundred years old, but the computer and programming allow for deep abstract levels of generation and interactivity.

Do you think there is a history to audio visual work?

In the last century, there have been numerous art movements around audio visual relationships. For example, in 1911, Kandinski started, with Franz Marc, the Blaue Reiter, which explored the concept of "total art", encompassing all the senses (http://www.blueriderpictures.com/blaue.htm).

Would you describe yourself as a multimedia artist, a net.artist, programmer, or none of the above?

I'm just an artist.

What software do you use most and why?

Macromedia Director is my everyday workshop, as it enables me to focus on the algorithms rather than on the technical details of imaging and sound control.

Can you recommend three urls to soundtoys?

http://www.gratin.org
http://www.servovalve.org
http://www.flyingpuppet.com

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