eastaughdatavis

[eastaughdatavis]

Resource from Memory Bank

Routes are re-drawn from light box with mapped route, recalled and recorded in pictured diary. Recorded whilst using associated tools within Memory bank (totem, images, sand shoes, audio recording, light box)

[eastaughdatavis]

Reflection

After developing this work, I have been enlightened by the effect that data can have on driving and contributing to a work. It completely diffused previous perceptions as to what “data” actually is and I will always consider for possible involvement. Whilst tackling construction of the larger structure, I was forced to embrace imperfection. Rather, considering the effect that it can have on creating an authentic, original, human made work. The initial insights I have gained from using Arduino show its potential to elevate a work, especially in creating interactive environments. I am extremely pleased with how the work has come together. “Memory Bank” along with other recent works has started to build clarity of the direction of my personal practice. This work has the potential to be progressively built upon and have new experiences contributed to the form. The work is heavily reliant to the interaction with the relating devices and I think it could be valuable to create a film demonstrating the work in use.

Thank you Karen! Your teaching style is fun and engaging,  able to hold the attention of the class for three hours. Super pleased that I decided to take this unit it was a nice step away design. Data has just been added into the tool kit. 

Picture: (Phillips piece for my drill broke so most of the assembly had to be done by hand)

[eastaughdatavis]

Few images of works from the exhibition.

I took these early on so not all works were on site yet! To anyone readings, all the works looked so good and was so interesting to see such diverse results! What a fun semester!

[eastaughdatavis]

Class Exhibition

[eastaughdatavis]

“Memory Bank” Louis Eastaugh Plywood, screws, Arduino, led lights, Accelerometer sensor, acrylic paint, acylic, contact paper, acetate, sand, salt water, speaker, ipod, auxiliary chord, karate belt, maranta leuconeura 500mm x 500mm x 1000mm 1 of 1 2019

Louis Eastaugh is a practicing designer interested in looking for ways to create systems that investigate the unknown. “Memory Bank” is a device creating an altered environment to assist in revisiting past surfing experiences, in pursuit of creating established memories. Through re-contextualising contemporary and indigenous memory techniques, the work stores visualised data from separate surfing experiences. The first part of Louis’ life was spent close to the ocean and city life has limited those visits, developing a desire for a stronger connection to nature. “Memory Bank” allows Louis to be transported to past experiences by activating the senses; integrating sound, touch and smell of the ocean.

The work examines the entropy of human memory, using collected data to create visual representations of experiences, questioning the authenticity of one’s memory. How many memories are developed by mislead information from past experiences? Through the act of memorising, at what stage do experiences become memories? In the act of trying to answer these questions and re-connect with nature, this work creates a practice which aims to store experiences in a physical and mental space. 

“Memory Bank” stores surfing experiences on memory cards within the structure, along with a set of worn devices to heighten Louis’ involvement when recalling his experiences. Each experience within “Memory Bank” has been collected using a GPS watch able to track Louis’ route over the duration of each surf, along with a waterproof recording device (gopro). The collected data from each experience is then sorted and edited to become a stored memory within “Memory Bank”. The memory cards are locked, examining personal experiences as a sacred part of ones identity, closed off and inaccessible to anyone but the experience holder. “Memory Bank”, in a sense, is only activated once interacted with and without human interaction the work functions merely as a cabinet. 

[eastaughdatavis]

Contents of each memory plate

Simple laser cut consisting of a rectangle slot for inserting two transparent sheets and a cut out circle to attach to the totem into the plate. 

-Totem

Based on GPS route of surfing experiences. (Further construction mentioned in earlier posts).

-GPS route mapping

Outlined route of each memory and stored with memory code number, date of experience and location. 

-Surfing Images

Three selected images from the experience taken from collected video footage. 

Image 2

Constructed totems from five surfing experiences.

[eastaughdatavis]

Light box construction

I started cutting out the main form with a circular saw that I got my hands on and started to consider the issues that may arise if parts were out of align. I didn’t want specs of light coming out and knew that would probably occur with my construction methods. This lead me to creating a design in illustrator and having the pieces cut on the Carvey (CNC router). 

After having the pieces cut, I had to plane the top and front facing piece so that it would align when the acrylic on the front was added. I added 0.5mm to both the pieces to allow planing and lining up the connected pieces. 

At this stage I was putting together the hand piece, using karate belt for the hand connection. Testing out a few different arrangements and trying to ensure that it was easy and firm when in use. 

Once the main structure was put together and I had soldered the lights to the connecting circuit for the Arduino I began assembling the light box. Placing the lights in an arrangement that could distribute the light evenly. 

[eastaughdatavis]

Constructing main form

Assembling main form, drilling and countersinking for a clean finish. The main outside was pre-cut using Allboard distributers in Thomastown. Considering that I all the other elements were only using a jigsaw and a sanding block it would be been impossible to get it right with the tools I had. Using a jigsaw doesn’t allow for perfect precision and even sanding down 2mm of ply can take a good amount of time and effort. Having the main outside pre-cut allowed me to ensure that the main form would assemble properly and there would be no major gaps. 

Every piece was cut millimetre perfect so when assembling I went through a process of connecting the elements and if they weren’t flushed to my standard, removing and starting again. Even if 0.5mm was out it could mean that a bottom piece would be hanging over the edge. 

Elmo was with me all along the way helping out. 

[eastaughdatavis]

(Image 1)

Movie Barcodes 

Kung Fu Panda

Additional images from new intro for Netflix shows and films. 

Sources:

(https://moviebarcode.tumblr.com/image/146067663036)

(https://www.netflix.com/browse?jbv=80218306&jbp=0&jbr=1)

[eastaughdatavis]

using : (draw.io)

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Arduino Soldering

First communication with the Arduino and LED lights. This was an incredibly satisfying moment. I have light! After testing everything on a breadboard I went ahead and soldered everything together. I had to consider that I needed length to attach to the light box and that some of the elements were going to be attached to a handle piece. 

[eastaughdatavis]

Data and Power

Our last class explored data and power and we were introduced to unusual examples of “art” such as the ballot vote install. We looked the series “Hacking Monopoly Trilogy” by Alessandro Ludovico and Paolo Cirico which explored issues relating to large online organisations Google, Facebook and Amazon. The series was three websites, each on a separate organisation and they creatively used the resources of the organisation to raise concern. We explored the mapping of identities and ways to avoid being recognised. Heather Dewey-Hagborg work consisted of collecting used cigarettes other found objects and by using a simple DNA test she would try reveal the identity of the person from the found artefact. 

It is super alarming to think of the ways that our identity has and will be tracked in the future. The ways that we can be monitored and categorised and what it could reveal. Another work used a program using surveillance to allow the public to add annotations to people in different locations around the world. The work seemed to have a light-hearted, human approach to the issues of surveillance. It is a strange thought that people that are “part” of the work may never have any clue that someone took the time to annotate their identity or was watching them via a live work.  

Image: 

Image 1:Installation at Laznia Museum of Contemporary Art in Gdansk, Poland, 2016.

Image 2: Sample box for NYC sample 4

Installation at Clocktower artist residency, January 2013

(https://deweyhagborg.com/projects/stranger-visions)

[eastaughdatavis]

Visualising music, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati (1919-1994)

Sources:

1, 2, 3, 4

[eastaughdatavis]

Go Pro Footage-Edited Images

After each of the surfs I had around 4-5 videos from each surf and from these videos I would be creating photographs that would sit on each of the memory files. I began sorting through the videos and choosing moments from each video that were able to connect myself to that moment. Through this process I then sorted through and left three images for each experience. These images were then edited in photoshop to leave a high contrast black layer that can be printed on transparent stock. I wanted the images stripped back from colour and slightly abstracted. It made the images feel older than they were and removed any feeling of time. In hope that each image would be extremely defining and would be able to situate me back to the memory. It is worth mentioning that in the process of creating these elements such as the photographs, I have forced myself to live with all this information related to the experience. I have already been heavily flooded by elements that I am created, and I think it is important to consider. 

(Pictured are the three images from my fifth experience)

[eastaughdatavis]

Playing with Arduino- Connecting the Gyroscope

This was an exciting yet daunting first step… I really struggled getting it up and going but wow is was satisfying. 

I went to the dock makers space to seek some advice from some electronics crew down there. I was worried that I was going to make a simple mistake and break everything I had bought so it was nice to be able to have someone to talk to. They were super helpful and great to feed off. 

I spent a good while just getting Arduino to read the board and I think that is mostly due to the fact it is a third-party board. Scouring the internet and chat boards I tried to find how to connect the gyroscope to the Arduino which seemed simple enough.. but not for me. Once outputting the data it started giving me strange characters and with enough reading I realised it was because I had the serial monitor settings different to that was written in the code. Then Bam! I was getting readings.

[eastaughdatavis]

Totem- Trial 2

After my first totem test I wanted to have a play other techniques that could work better. This was my first test with the carvey. The depth I carved too was a little low and left some imperfections and the overall width of the form was too thick. Considering that the form was going to be on a thin piece of the ply I realised it would appear cohesively and would seem extremely heavily. At this stage I think I am going to continue with laser cutting and add an additional element related to the GPS route above the main form too create a more layered and thick structure. Similar to my initial concepts.

[eastaughdatavis]

Music Box and Sand Shoes Constructed

After prototyping the different forms, I bought some 18mm ply to begin construction of the sculptural form. When I had started this concept, I was under the impression that I would have access to the workshop in building 49 and the workshop in the design hub. However… unlike many things with RMIT, these spaces were restricted for comm design student. Baffles me… I guess we are forced to limit ourselves to whatever we can fork out. This issue lead me to having to buy some tools to be able to get the job done.. luckily I had another course project where I had bought some tools for the same reason. It did mean though that making large straight cuts were going to be an issue and I was okay with imperfections but not on a scale that could cause issues with the integrity and strength of the sculpture. There is only so much a jigsaw and sanding can do! I was lucky that the plywood retailer “Allboard” In Thomastown was able to cut all of my nine larger pieces for only $25.

To start on the easier more manageable components I began with the music box and sand shoes. From early on I started to realise what I had got myself into and not having an electric sander was really struggling and time consuming to do even the simplest of work. This project forced me to “embrace imperfections”. It is something that is truly human. As long as each of the forms can interact and work as they are supposed it and I created them to the best of my ability, then they are “perfect” to the restrictions I am working with. After trying to work out materials for the sand shoes and struggling to come up with an idea, my partner mentioned re-purposing an old karate belt. The width and overall appearance worked perfectly and the colour worked well with the aesthetic I had established.