[im] A Flying Pantograph

[János Sugár]

We explore an art form where machines take essential role in 
aesthetics and processes of the creation. Our main theme can be 
summarized as "body, hybrid, and "evolve" - as we study an artistic 
medium that incorporates mechanical machines that institutes a hybrid 
creation process as well as an expressive capacity beyond body limits.

"Flying Pantograph" transposes human-scale drawing acts to a 
physically remote output canvas in different scales and aesthetics. A 
drone becomes an "expression agent" - modified to carry a pen and be 
controlled by human motions, then carries out the actual process of 
drawing on a vertical wall. Not only mechanically extending a human 
artist, the drone plays a crucial part of the expression as its own 
motion dynamics and software intelligence add new visual language to 
the art. This agency forms a strong link between a human artist and 
the canvas, however, in the same time, is a deliberate programmatic 
disconnect that offers space for exploiting machine aesthetics as a 
core expression medium.

The seemingly straightforward technical realization is in fact a 
combination of non-trivial mechanical and algorithmic solutions. The 
drone, a floating machine, is relying on a slim chance of 
stabilization acquired by battling the vortex of air, the pressure 
and friction on the canvas surface, and the capricious mind of the 
human artist. This suspense, the vulnerability to instability and the 
aftermath of crashing, poses a contrast with the optimistic idea of 
technologically evolved capability of a human artist.

Sang-won Leigh*, Harshit Agrawal*, and Pattie Maes

Fluid Interfaces Group
<http://www.wired.com/2016/03/mits-clever-new-drone-draws-mostly/>http://www.wired.com/2016/03/mits-clever-new-drone-draws-mostly/