project title
Footprint Mapping
project description
"Footprint mapping" is an attempt to create a digital map of streets and public spaces by gathering "footprints" of participants of the project.
The artist creates DIY style digital mapping system consists of cheap pedometer (step meter), digital compass, micro processor, web cam and laptop computer. All the system will be set on a custom made backpack so that one of the participants can try this.
The map will be made from the information gathered from pedometer (step meter) to measure the distance by counting steps, digital compass to find directions for every single step, web cam which will be installed above of the person and look down to take digital photographs of surroundings for each step. Laptop computer generates dynamic collage of photographs in real time and show it on the participant's back.
Participants can go anywhere includes inside of building, subway, etc. unless the memory of laptop is filled with photographs or battery is run out. End of each day, the artist try to gather each participant's footprint map into single digital collage. Then other participants may find he/she is walking on somebody's footprint.
The result and process of mapping will be documented and updated on website and/or at Participant Inc., where each mapping tour will start.
name
Noriyuki Fujimura
location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
profile
We are in era of progressive technology and confusion of urban environment. For a longtime now, artists have been trying to work on the problem outside of museums (so-called "Public Art"). And it is easy to find huge modern sculptures in public plazas of any city in the world. But those sculptures no longer have the power which they had before. How do we design urban spaces using the power and potential of art?
Noriyuki Fujimura is trying to adopt interactive art into public/urban space to explore what the future of public/urban space is.
"Remote Furniture"(1999) is an artwork consisting of computer-controlled chair objects inspired by our everyday life. A pair of rocking chairs creates tactile communication between two members of the audience. He has shown this artwork during the past three years in various public spaces around Tokyo, where it always creates unexpected encounters between passersby.
"World/World"(2001) is his recent artwork in collaboration with Nodoka UI, who researches and creates water fountains. This artwork is also computer controlled and networked to the other side of the earth. Audiences in two remote places can communicate with a movable pole that appears to pass through the earth. The aim of this artwork is to create shared experience through physical objects even between different countries, languages and cultures. This artwork was partly realized in the fall of 2001, between "The Virtual Mine Project" in Neunkirchen, Germany and The Museum of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo, Japan.
Fujimura's past work and projects were presented of the "CAST01 -Living in Mixed Reality-" conference in Bonn, Germany, in October, 2001, and published in the conference proceedings in a paper titled "Public Communication Sculpture".
links
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/noriyuki
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/noriyuki/artworks/footprints/index.html
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/noriyuki/artworks/world-world/index.html
http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/noriyuki/documents/cast01.pdf