Hyper-shaku at Creativity and Cognition '07

Written with Sam Ferguson, our paper, Gestural Hyper Instrument Collaboration with Generative Computation for Real Time Creativity has been selected for the Creativity and Cognition Conference (Seeding Creativity: Tools, Media, and Environments) in Washington D.C. with keynote speakers Mitchell Resnick from MIT Media Lab and Thecla Schiphorst from Simon Fraser University. We are quite chuffed because only 24 papers were chosen. Sam will present the paper as I will be in Japan at that time. This paper describes an environment for creative engagement utilising idiomatic musical performance gestures and expression to elicit responsive generative augmentation of audio and visual delivery. The system employs artificial biological systems to generate new artistic material meshed with musical performance. The generative process is triggered and moderated by the gestural interaction of the human performer (sensed by motion captors, computer vision and computer hearing). The model’s scalability and modularity enable different generative processes to be interchanged to explore the affect of their interaction with each other and responsiveness to the performer. Technical implementation is demonstrated in the environment, Hyper-Shaku.

Nihongo Kurasu

Of course I finally have to try to learn Japanese language! In the holidays I spent two weeks in an intensive beginners class (Continuing Education at Sydney University) and 3 weeks ago we started level 1 following on. The virtues of non-declining verbs, 2 tenses, absence of singular and plural are just wonderful compared with the European languages I have studied previously. I guess the script and particles are going to make up for it but so far very fun with our invigorating teacher, Mayumi Sensei. So far just meet & greet, endless different techniques for counting of different objects, shopping terminology, business hours, cards, professions, transportation. The teaching is very inspiring.

Youkobo Art Space Tokyo Residency

Youkobo Art Space is located in metropolitan Tokyo, 15km west from the city centre, near to Kichijoji Station. It consists of a gallery space, 2 studios and 2 apartments, one each Japanese and Western style equipped with heating, appliances, cooking utensils, LAN Internet access, a bicycle, etc. The co-directors are Hiroko (sculptor) and Tatsuhiko Murata who have welcomed over 70 artists of 15 different nationalities since founding Youkobo Art Space in 1984. Youkobo Art Space's primary objective is to support and enhance the creativity of artists by offering opportunities for artistic investigation on urban issues in a contemporary Japanese setting. Its various programs are committed to providing the local community with creative stimulus by promoting cultural exchange between international artists and local citizens. I have been invited from December '07 to January '08 to undertake two proposed projects: a responsive sound & video design performance environment; and composition of a shakuhachi and koto double concerto integrating traditional and contemporary idioms. The responsive sound & video design performance environment, InterTOKYO will use real time generative music, images and sound collected in the Tokyo neighbourhood and sounds derived from shakuhachi original sounds together with gesture tracking computer vision and wireless sensing to trigger exploration by subtle gestures of the shakuhachi performer. In the end, the piece is intended for multimedia performance in 2008 World Shakuhachi Festival but I will trial performance at Youkobo, where it should be a thought-invoking locative piece to facilitate community engagement. Collecting its material involves photographic, audio recording and video exploration of the neighbourhood, following the theme of 'finding Zen in modern Japan', a junction epitomised by Tokyo, examining the clash/fusion/collaboration/complementarity/co-existence of the Traditional and technology, assimilating the physical and digital in an aesthetic environment. In preparation for the composition, I hope to collaborate with and seek advice from Kakizakai and to audit some traditional music sessions at the Tokyo Geijitsu Daigaku (Tokyo University of Fine Arts), recommended to me by Tom Heneghan at work [his former University].

Zen priests of nothingness on ABC Radio National

Geoff Wood will broadcast a documentary in his Encounter series on ABC Radio National (Australia) featuring the background and music of the komuso monk. Inspired by his visit to Myoanji Fukuji Temple of Light and Darkness in Kyoto, where the remaining monks in the tradition of the mendicant Fuke sect remain, Wood visited guided by Kyoto shakuhachi master, Kurahashi sensei. The radio program will include Katsuya Yokoyama (Tokyo), Yoshio Kurahashi (Kyoto), Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin (New York), Christopher Yohmei Blasdel (Tokyo) and Riley Lee (Sydney). 'Zen Priests of Nothingness': Sunday 1 April 2007, 7:10am; repeated 4 April, 7:10pm. This program will be online for MP3 download for 4 weeks following the broadcast at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/encounter/. Accompanying the radio documentary is a special edition of 'The Rhythm Divine' on Friday 30 March, 7:35pm featuring Katsuya Yokoyama and Riley Lee. [...this information is courtesy of the Japan Foundation Sydney 'Omusubi' newsletter]

Youngest member of the shakuhachi community

Congratulations to Bronwyn and Gary for the birth of Alina Grace on 21 January at home. Alina commenced pre-natal shakuhachi listening practice months ago.