New Media students bring interactive art projects to life in ‘Odyssey’ experience
The RTA New Media (opens in new window) graduating class of 2023 have come together to create their year-end showcase, titled Odyssey (external link, opens in new window) the students and their respective work, which is personalized to their real-life experiences. As the team describes, the word ‘odyssey’ has various interpretations, including adventure, journey, experience, exploration, knowledge, and discovery.
Fourth-year New Media Students Guinevere Cordon & Abbey Winch at the Odyssey exhibit
Odyssey's reception and open remarks at Northern Contemporary Gallery.
“The 2023 thesis exhibition is the first year in a long time where we’ve had an off-campus gallery showcase, which was very exciting for all the artists involved.” Said Helen Chen, fourth-year New Media student and the Art Director for Odyssey. “After so many years online, being able to facilitate a space where our artists could finally see their work displayed in a professional, real-life setting was a really emotional, ‘full-circle’ moment for many students.”
Imagination set free
Through Odyssey, students showcase their interactive art explorations and ways they can be used for cultural innovation. This involves exploring the unlimited possibilities of new, unconventional media such as interaction design, coding, electronics, digital fabrication, gaming, wearable computing, virtual reality, and augmented reality, among others. Attendees had the chance to view projects personalized to each creator and grounded in real-life experiences. These projects showcased the tools and techniques that each artist deems essential in their creative practice. Attendees had the privilege of encountering unfamiliar concepts and media, bringing new and insightful technological perspectives.
Odyssey, New Media 2023 year-end thesis exhibition.
“The student experience leading to the New Media Thesis exhibition is defined by a strong foundation in technical abilities, theoretical frameworks and critical thinking skills,” remarked David Bouchard, Associate Professor and Program Director of New Media. “Students build on this through flexible curriculum options that reflect the broad scope of interests and creative mediums.”
The New Media program provides a foundation in various subjects related to interactive art, including interaction design, gaming, media theory, programming, video and sound production, art history, digital fabrication, and contemporary art.
“One of the highlights of the program was the wide-ranged skillset we learned, from creative coding and working with electronics, to 3D printing and fabrication,” said New Media student Brian Leclerc. “We were taught many useful skills in the program, which I value today.”
Yearning, learning, presence and obsolescence
Featured projects were categorized into one of four themes: yearning, learning, presence and obsolescence.
Obscelece represents the positive and negative outcomes of technology in the future and how it can be utilized to advance art, culture and mere human existence. Fourth-year student Alexander Verni presented his project HandPrint: A Tool for Human-Driven 3D Printing.
Alexander Verni presenting his project HandPrint: A Tool for Human-Driven 3D Printing.
HandPrint: A Tool for Human-Driven 3D Printing by RTA New Media student Alexander Verni
“Objects made through industrial manufacturing processes are missing unique qualities that are inherent in handmade objects,” Verni explained. “So, I asked, ‘what would a handmade object look like when created with industrial machinery?’”
HandPrint: A Tool for Human-Driven 3D Printing presents a proof-of-concept tool that uses the human body to control a robotic arm in the process of 3D printing.
“The functions of the human body are completely excluded from the process of working with these amazing robotic tools!” added Verni. “My thesis project explores what a proper unison between the human body and robotic machinery may look like.”
HandPrint: A Tool for Human-Driven 3D Printing suggests that there may be new ways to manufacture with industrial machinery by aligning the human body to the center of the fabrication process.
Still image from Apartment by Brian Leclerc
Apartment by RTA New Media student Brian Leclerc
The theme of presence is being one with ourselves in the current context of society, through living in the moment or creating a better understanding of existence. Fourth-year student Brian Leclerc showcased Apartment under that theme.
In this piece, an apartment building is created to reflect the complexities of society. Each unit within the building represents a unique story, reflecting past memories and experiences. Using 3D animation and modelling with Unreal Engine, Leclerc created an immersive experience to engage the viewer.
“In a world where we are constantly rushing and struggling to keep up with the demands of modern life, Apartment encourages us to pause and reflect on the richness and diversity of each individual life.” Leclerc said. “With this artwork, I wanted to showcase the range of triumphs and tribulations that work in harmony with our human nature.”
The graduating class intends to provide knowledge to the larger community about what it means to be a New Media professional in an ever-expanding technological world through the display of innovative creations. To discover more of the projects showcased at Odyssey, check out their website (external link, opens in new window) .
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