Breathing
File Festival

source: vimeo

Breathing is a work of art based on a hybrid creature made of a living organism and an artificial system. The creature responds to its environment through movement, light and the noise of its mechanical parts. Breathing is the best way to interact with the creature.
This work is the result of an investigation of plants as sensitive agents for the creation of art. The intention was to explore new forms of artistic experience through the dialogue of natural and artificial processes. Breathing is a pre-requisite for life, and is the path that links the observer to the creature.
Breathing is a small step towards new art forms in which subtle processes of organic and non-organic life may reveal invisible patterns that interconnect us.
Breathing is a work of art driven by biological impulse. Its beauty is neither found isolated on the plant nor in the robotic system itself. It emerges at the very moment in which the observer approaches the creature and their energies are exchanged through the whole system. It is in that moment of joy and fascination, in which we find ourselves in a very strange dialogue, that a life metaphor is created.
Breathing is the celebration of that moment.

Guto (Carlos) Nóbrega is Doctor of Philosophy by the School of Art and Media, University of Plymouth – UK (2009), where he developed 4 years research funded by CAPES/Brazil. Under supervision of Prof. Roy Ascott, he took part of the international research group Planetary Collegium for transdisciplinary studies in the fields of art, science, technology and nature. His work investigates how the confluence of these domains (in special in the last decades) has informed the creation of new aesthetics experiences. This study resulted in a theoretical-practical intervention in the field of arts with focus on the ideas of interactivity, telematics, field theories, and the most recent theories of biophotons.
As a result of his practical approach it was developed a series of artworks which encompasses drawings, photos, videos and robotics.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
source: fileorg

Abstract:
“Breathing” is a work of art based on a hybrid creature made of a living organism (a plant) and an artificial system. In the core of that system a plant Jibóia (Epipremnum pinnatum) has its electrophysiological signal monitored by an analogical-digital circuit in order to control a robotic interface. This interface is made of a servo mechanism, fibre optics and light-emitting diodes. The circuit that monitors the plant is made of a Galvanic Skin Response, adapted to measure electrical resistance in vegetal leaves, coupled to a microcontroller such as “arduino”.
Biography:
Guto (Carlos) Nóbrega is Doctor of Philosophy (2009) by The Planetary Collegium (CAiiA-STAR), based on the School of Art and Media, University of Plymouth – UK, where he developed 4 years of research under supervision of Prof. Roy Ascott. His doctoral thesis, funded by CAPES – BRAZIL, is a transdisciplinary research in the fields of art, science, technology and nature that investigates how the confluence of these domains (in special in the last decades) has informed the creation of new aesthetics experiences. As a result of this study it was developed a theoretical-practical intervention in the field of arts with focus on the ideas of interactivity, telematics, field theories, and the most recent theories of biophotons. During this process it was developed a series of artworks that encompasses drawings, photos, videos and robotics systens. His works has been presented widely in exhibitions and conferences such as: Arizona College of Fine Arts -Arizona – US, ISEA – Singapore, University of Quebec in Montreal’s Coeur des Sciences, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Sala Parpalló – Valência – Spain, LABoral – Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, Gijon – Spain, Facultad de Ciencias Sociais y Comunicación Universidad del País Vasco – Bilbao – Spain, International Institute Of Biophysics – Neuss – Germany, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth – UK, Art Centre – Plymouth – UK, Barbican Theatre – Plymouth – UK, Cornerhouse – Manchester – UK. His articles have been published in journals and books. Guto Nóbrega is artist, researcher, has MA in Communication, Technology and Aesthetics by ECO-UFRJ – Brazil (2003) and is Bachelor in Engraving by the Escola de Belas Artes – UFRJ – Brazil (1998). Since 1995 he holds a position as Adjunct Professor at the same University.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
source: fileorg

Abstract:
“Breathing” trata-se de uma criatura híbrida com base na comunicação entre um organismo natural (planta) e um sistema artificial. Na base deste sistema encontra-se uma planta Jibóia (Epipremnum pinnatum) cujos sinais eletrofisiológicos são monitorados por um dispositivo analógico-digital de maneira a controlar uma interface robótica composta de estrutura mecânica, fibra ótica e leds (light-emitting diodes). O dispositivo que monitora a planta é composto por um medidor de resistência galvânica (Galvanic Skin Response), adaptado de forma a medir variações de resistência elétrica na superfície de folhas vegetais, associado a um microcontrolador do tipo “arduino”.
Biography:
Guto (Carlos) Nóbrega é Doutor (2009) pelo Planetary Collegium (CAiiA-STAR), sediado na School of Art and Media, University of Plymouth UK, onde desenvolveu pesquisa sob orientação do Prof. Roy Ascott durante 4 anos de bolsa de doutorado pleno pela CAPES. Sua pesquisa de caráter transdisciplinar nos domínios da arte, ciência, tecnologia e natureza investiga como a confluência desses campos (em especial nas últimas décadas) tem informado a criação de novas experiências estéticas. Este estudo traz como resultado um intervenção prático-teórica no campo da arte com foco nas idéias de interatividade, telemática, teorias de campo e nas recentes pesquisas em biofotônica. Os trabalhos de Guto Nóbrega tem sido apresentados internacionalmente em conferências e exposições tais como: Arizona College of Fine Arts -Arizona US, ISEA Singapore, University of Quebec in Montreal s Coeur des Sciences, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Sala Parpalló – Valência Spain, LABoral – Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, Gijon Spain, Facultad de Ciencias Sociais y Comunicación Universidad del País Vasco – Bilbao Spain, International Institute Of Biophysics Neuss Germany, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth UK, Art Centre Plymouth UK, Barbican Theatre Plymouth UK, Cornerhouse – Manchester UK. Seus textos tem sido publicados largamente em journals e livros. Guto Nóbrega é artista, pesquisador, Mestre em Comunicação, Tecnologia e Estética pela ECO-UFRJ (2003) e Bacharel em gravura pela EBA-UFRJ (1998) onde é professor e leciona desde 1995.