In this presentation, Viv encourages researchers to think about how privacy is intimately related to notions of identity and how the sense of privacy changes on a moment by moment basis. Viv’s work also encourages researchers to think about how physical space interacts with someone’s emotional space and how adjusting physical space influences the senses of privacy.

VOME Workshop: What does Privacy Look Feel and Sound Like? Viv Corringham from VOME on Vimeo.

Viv Corringham is a Sound Artist who communicates other people’s private thoughts. She listens and records them during a walk of their familiar route, walking by their side, later to re-walk their route on her own, singing to their stories she’s listened to.  She calls the recordings ‘Shadow walks’ and says her voice becomes a ‘ghost’ of the memories and associates.  Viv says people literally undress for a sound recording, as they would for if being painted; being painted or recorded merging into a space where people reveal privacy in different forms.

Link here to read Freya’s complete thoughts on Viv’s presentation

Our fourth release from the “What does Privacy Look Feel and Sound like Workshop” presents Justin Durrel.

“In this provocation, Justin Durrel reflects on notions of anonymity and the power it can give us. Justin contextualises the opening of his talk in the US interview: http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/375428/february-24-2011/corporate-hacker-tries-to-take-down-wikileaks which sadly we can’t show in the UK. However, nevertheless, Justin raises a number of interesting questions and challenges some of our traditional research notions of anonymity. The second part of the film shows a very energetic interaction between researchers and artists in which some of the roles of anonymity in society are debated.”

More details on the workshop, its objectives and an outline of the process can be found here

Justin Durrel – Pt 1 from VOME on Vimeo.

Justin Durrel – Pt 2 from VOME on Vimeo.

Justin Durrel is accelerating forwards as an artist and theatre-maker.  His knowledge of the web is vast, his thoughts fresh and on the beat, naming things as is – he certainly does not beat around the bush.  From Baltimore he comes to Europe bearing his cultural roots with pride.

‘I don’t believe that privacy exists on the net, I don’t actually believe that privacy exists anywhere anyway’, Justin says.  He thinks this thing about wanting privacy is a modern day phenomena, historically we were content to live much closer, more people living in the same space, close knit communities – there wasn’t much privacy then, he says.

Link here to read Freya’s complete thoughts on Justin’s presentation

“Rika Deryckere is a figure painter. Some of her work focuses on the erotic and she often presents a “naked and brutal reality”. In this short film, she reflects on her work and shows some of her erotic art that emphasises privacy in its intimate form. In her talk, Rika also draws out different states of privacy ranging from anonymity, to isolation and intimacy and reflects on how it is possible to be in several of those states simultaneously.”

More details on the workshop, its objectives and an outline of the process can be found here

There’s so much there in Rika Deyricke’s presentation.  You’ll see Rika  captured on film with her own craziness and fun, with a tiny pinch of vulnerability and a depth of thought.  ‘The only truth we have at our disposal is hidden within us, unless of course, we elect to share it with others.’ Rika quotes from Simon Lane.

Rika Deryckere from VOME on Vimeo.

Link here to read Freya’s complete thoughts on Rika’s presentation.

This is the second film from the “What does privacy look feel and sound like” workshop. Jonathan’s presentation focuses on presenting 10 thoughts and anecdotes on technology, privacy and visibility / invisibility and relates these to his own experience.  His presentation is thought provoking.  From these 10 thoughts / anecdotes you can also learn more about Jonathan and how he operates. The VOME researchers, amongst other things, used this provocation to think about how our interaction with technology changes our perceptions of self and how technology affects us and we affect technology.

More details on the workshop, its objectives and an outline of the process can be found here

VOME WORKSHOP:WHAT DOES PRIVACY LOOK FEEL AND SOUND LIKE: Jonathan from VOME on Vimeo.

Link here to read Freya’s complete thought’s on Jonathan’s presentation

VOME is releasing one video per week for the next eight weeks. Each individual film is a specific social commentary on a privacy related topic developed by an artist for one of our workshops. Our artists are from a variety of genres, and all participated in our “What does Privacy Look, Feel and Sound Like?” workshop, so look out for some interesting and though provoking film clips. For more details on the workshop and the process we followed, click here.

Private Moments -A film from the Workshop “What does Privacy Sound Feel and Look Like” – Reettta’s  pure essence – a provocation that was developed to explore thoughts on the nature of identity and identity management.

As part of its work, VOME has engaged with art and design communities as we work to envision different ways in which privacy and consent technologies might evolve. Art and design disciplines have also helped to enrich VOME’s current technology development programme. VOME is focused on grassroots debate and interaction on privacy issues across all sections of the community.
In support of the evolving discussion prompted by the alternate viewpoints on privacy highlighted by these videos, an artist from the VOME community will be leading blog discussions on our art and design programme.
You can find all the film related to this part of our work here:

Reetta’s pure essence

This is the first film from the artists’ workshop entitled “What Does Privacy Sound, Feel and Look Like?”.  More details on the workshop, its objectives and an outline of the process can be found here.

Each artist was asked to develop a provocation related to the theme of on-line privacy. Here is Reetta’s provocation based on the theme of identity. The audience interact with Reetta to uncover aspects of her identity that she typically keeps hidden. This provocation helps VOME researchers to think about the different aspects of identity and identity management and some of the sense in which identity is negotiated.

VOME WORKSHOP:WHAT DOES PRIVACY LOOK FEEL AND SOUND LIKE: REETTA from VOME on Vimeo.

Watching Reetta’s presentation you see a glimmer of Reetta as she really is, pre performance.  A private moment of the actor captured.  The moment before ‘going on’, when you don’t know for sure what will really happen as there is audience involvement and it all depends on how they accept your proposals, react and interact.  Making sure you’re ready, in Reetta’s case: props, costume, makeup and music – not too high / not too low.  Had the audience interrupted Reetta’s pre-set up, she would have had a momentary loss of control of the illusion she wished to create.

Link here to read Freya’s complete thoughts on this presentation

Lizzie Coles -Kemp – Project Manager for VOME,  introduces the project and sets the scene for  the Key note speaker. In this introduction, Lizzie explains a little of the ways in which VOME works with the art and design communities.

Lizzie Coles-Kemp presents “What does privacy look, feel and sound like” from VOME on Vimeo.

The Visualisation and Other Methods of Expression (VOME) project hosted a presentation evening event at the Design Council, Covent Garden on the 22nd March.

Peter Hall Presentation at the Design Centre: Mapping the Intangible from VOME on Vimeo.

At this event, VOME presented some of the artistic output from the VOME project and presented a talk on experimental design practices by Peter Hall, Design Educator and Critic, University of Texas. In his talk, Peter Hall explained approaches to creating visualisations of societal issues using artistic input and social research and discussed the potential role these approaches might play in technology design.

Abstract from the presentation

VOME hosted a workshop for artists at the Drill Hall in London on March 3rd and 4th. The overall aim of the event was to work with artists from a variety of genres to explore how we experience privacy in our everyday lives and the different ways in which we articulate the emotions related to how we experience privacy.
Link here for more information

The Visualisation and Other Methods of Expression (VOME) project is hosting an evening event at the Design Council, Covent Garden on the 22nd March (18.00-20.00). The Design Council is located on Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2E7DL

At this event we shall be presenting some of the artistic output from the VOME project and hosting a talk on experimental design practices by Peter Hall, Design Educator and Critic, University of Texas. In his talk, Peter Hall will explain approaches to creating visualisations of societal issues using artistic input and social research and will discuss the potential role these approaches might play in technology design.

WHERE: DESIGN COUNCIL – COVENT GARDEN, LONDON
WHEN: 22 March 2011, 18.00 – 20.00
FREE TO ATTEND, but numbers are limited so please register your attendance in advance

18.00: Arrival and registration
18.15-19.30: Presenting some of the artisic output,
Peter Hall presentation – Mapping the Intangible: Experimental Design Practices
Q&A
19.30-20.00: Network and close

Abstract: Peter Hall presentation – Mapping the Intangible: Experimental Design Practices

In recent years, designers, architects and artists have increasingly turned to mapping as a means of researching and visualizing complex problems, and revealing potential solutions. Drawing from cartographic practices, but questioning the limitations of traditional maps, many recent mapping projects explore how overlooked interests and seemingly immeasurable elements like emotions can be visualized using collaborative methods and technologies. In this talk, Peter Hall discusses the emergence of mapping as a design process and asks what technology design might learn from these experimental approaches to understanding and visualizing socially constructed concepts such as privacy, networks and identity.

Please email Claire Hudson: claire.hudson@rhul.ac.uk if you would like to attend.