12:00 pm
Insufficient Data as Artistic Impression, Exemplified by the Gone Garden VR Experience
Benjamin Seide, Elke Reinhuber, Ross Williams
School of Art, Design and Media / Nanyang Technological University
81 Nanyang Drive, Singapore
bseide@ntu.edu.sg, elke@ntu.edu.sg, rawilliams@ntu.edu.sg
In this paper, we outline how we have embraced the unique aesthetics of purposefully flawed photogrammetry from insufficient data to provide an impressionistic experience for a virtual heritage application.
Over the last decade, photogrammetry and laser scanning have become particularly useful for 3D reconstruction in the context of visual effects and virtual heritage applications. 3D reconstruction is the process of utilising data captured from real environments or objects to create a scientifically accurate virtual representation. Although even inexperienced users can achieve impressive results, still, flawed reconstructions occur when for example insufficient data is being provided. Naturally, one would discard such inaccurate reconstruction, but arguably such glitches embody a certain aesthetic, by telling a different story.
The initiative for this artistic research derived from the announced refurbishment of a Chinese Garden in Singapore. Our project generated the 360° film »Secret Detours«, experiments with CG animation and Visual Effects as a form of visual interpretation, as well as a 3D reconstruction of the site as a Virtual Reality environment. During the production, the redevelopment of the actual site confronted us with the disappearance of the garden as we knew it. We, as a group of researchers and artists, decided to explore possibilities of how to visualise the transience of the garden and its transformation from the beautifully arrangement of trees, flowers, pavilions and pathways to a deconstructed, semi-chaotic, broken state with piles of soil, tree trunks and wilderness taking over.
Our project »Gone Garden« explores the use of photogrammetry as a tool to create a non-realistic, impressionistic representation from data captured at the actual heritage site for the purpose of an emotional and aesthetic interpretation. We argue, that beyond the preservation aspect of virtual heritage, artistic interpretations can benefit the audience’s involvement by creating an emotional experience.
Mr Benjamin Seide
Associate Professor ADM / NTU Singapore
www.ataribaby.de
Benjamin Seide, educator, researcher and media artist, lives in Singapore and Berlin and researches in the field of animation and immersive media. In the 1990s, Seide shot his first interactive 360° film with a self-developed camera. His work as a visual effects artist from the 2000s contributed to Arthouse and Hollywood films, including Wim Wender’s “Don’t Come Knocking”, Roman Polanski’s “Oliver Twist” and Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo”. Currently his projects investigate artistic interpretation of cultural and film heritage in immersive media.
Dr Elke Reinhuber
Assistant Professor ADM / NTU Singapore
www.eer.de
German media artist, researcher and educator Elke Reinhuber teaches currently at the School of Art, Design and Media at NTU Singapore. Her interest in immersive representations of architectural cultural heritage via digital media started in the early days of laser scanning and panoramic imaging with QuickTime VR for web and interactive museum installations. Her award winning artistic research was presented internationally, at conferences, exhibitions, group shows and festivals such as V&A Digital Futures in London, ZKM Centre for Art and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany, Museum für Fotografie, Winterthur, Switzerland, Bozar Brussels and Manifesta Palermo, Italy.
Dr Ross Adrian Williams
Assistant Professor ADM / NTU Singapore
www.fluidsound.com
Australian composer/sound designer Ross Adrian Williams has written music and designed sound across a range of styles for theatre, feature film, concert hall, dance, museum installation, VR and interactive media. Most recently his works for award-winning films have been shown in festivals around the world. His research interests range from implementation of audio stimuli to improve the effectiveness of robotic motor training and improving the detection of volcanic events in infrasound to multichannel sound design for experimental film. Currently, his research has been concerned with sound and cultural heritage in Virtual Reality / 360° video.