This week in Working in Digital Media our lecturer was Emma Wade, who previously worked in a web applications company but is currently an artist. Which to me doesnt really apply to our current course but I suppose that this weeks lecture was deisgned to show us that from this course we can branch out to many different fields.
She explained to us that during her two years in NCAD she was challenged to think differently from how she had previously as web designers are accustomed to taking very logical approach’s towords problems were as artists are thought to think “outside of the box”. Her first project that she undertook as an artist was The Cheerup and frankly I have to admit it is one of the most inspired, humourous pieces I have eve rcome across.
The idea is that a person stands on a small mat, as they do two speakers that are attached to the mat erupt in applause, the longer you stay on the mat the louder the applause gets! For someone with a massive ego(like myself) this is a mastery in her field and I would love for it to be sold commercially. Unfortunatly though the only one in existence remains the property of Emma.
For her final year project she mixed her digital skills with her art to develop “Rexotrek” a look at how animals see the world around them. This I enjoyed less as involved watching a five minute long video of her dog running around with a camera strapped to his collar, sitting in that lecture theatre it got very awkward.
Since leaving NCAD Emma has worked on numerous projects including teaching a photoshop course a nights in America. Most recently however she was hired to work in Limerick on a project of her choosing.
Emma chose to explore the science behind hugs. She created a number of devices that when strapped around a person simulated the feeling of being hugged, this I suppose was a further development on her “Cheer up” project.
I dont believe Emma’s lecture had much to do with working in the digital world as it was mainly focused on her art. Art, while I have an interest in it, is something that I would never want to do professionaly it was interesting however to learn how someone who started working initially on web based applicationds ended up in doing art.
