DEScription
MusicMotion, the Society for Arts and Technology [SAT] and its R&D center Metalab, present the HACKLAB21 projects
During this hackathon which took place from October 15 to 17, 2021 at the SAT, the 5 teams had 3 days to design an interactive audiovisual work, or a sound or visual creation tool, that emphasizes a motor or sensory disability.
The objective of this second edition of the HACKLAB was to set up a co-creation laboratory open to all artists, in an inclusive manner, to highlight the diversity of abilities and create a collective awareness of the exclusion of people with disabilities in the technological arts.
2021 THEMATICS
SHOWCASING DIVERSITY THROUGH DIGITAL ARTS
Inclusion of artists with disabilities in the multidisciplinary co-creation process.
The hackathon is open to everyone (disabled and non-disabled), regardless of differences.
Context
The recent shift towards digital media has shined a light on an injustice that causes social exclusion of disabled people: The vast majority of digital arts creation tools are designed for people without disabilities (non-disabled) and are, thus, not accessible to all.
For this new edition of the HACKLAB, MUSICMOTION is setting up an environment to inclusively allow all artists to co-create and highlight the diversity of capabilities (disabled artists and non-disabled artists).
TOOL BOX
In addition to experienced mentors, software and technological equipment were available for the creation of prototypes.
METALAB Technologies
Established in 2002, Metalab is the research and development laboratory of the Society for Arts and Technology [SAT]. Metalab's mission is twofold: to stimulate the emergence of innovative immersive experiences and to make their design accessible to artists and creators of immersion through an ecosystem of free software. Metalab mentors were on hand during HACKLAB21 to provide assistance in using these technologies.
Other technologies
MIDI controllers, EEG, Subpac vibration vest, motion sensors, projectors, dynamic microphones, etc.
Exclusive content:
NFB video archive (100 audiovisual clips available as creative content).
TEAMS
TEAM PERCEPTO
Prize: Research and creation residency at Metalab, SAT's R&D laboratory (2 weeks)
With Technologies de la fête, a series of interfaces for electronic music, team Percepto tried to play with medical technologies such as bio-sensors in order to create physical interfaces allowing people with disabilities to join the party by amplifying with empathy and listening micro-movements, intentions and sound sources captured in the city.
TEAM ENIGMA
Prize: 500$ cash grant offered by SUBPAC
Our team made a visual piece of art for those who are hard of hearing and started the process of creating interactive art to empower an orchestra of diverse artists with disabilities who want to perform or create computer-generated art. Our idea was to create piano-generated music using machine learning models, and have generative art react to it. We recorded vocals in the style of opera on top of the generated piece. We then sequenced the audio using Ableton Live.
TEAM OETHEL
Prize: Tickets for an immersive show at the SAT
Proxémix creates a multi-sensory rendering, capturing the movements and proxemic zones experienced in a group. The sound and images on the floor are modified, with a tactile sensation marking the transitions. The weakening exclusion is represented. Everyone can experience this work highlighting social distances.
ÉQUIPE MURMURATION
Prize: 500$ gift certificate, offered by MontVR
Iritare*' is an audiovisual performance that contrasts two stages of the creative process for artists with disabilities; physical constraint and creative freedom.
Iritare* is Latin for both irritate/anger and excite/stimulate.
During the performance, the visual and sound environment is generated by the sounds and movements of multidisciplinary artist Gaëtane Cummings. The contrast between the physical constraint of the preparatory phase and the total freedom of artistic creation is magnificent.
TEAM WOOCHI
Prize: Desjardins grant of $2500 for their project 𝙇𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨.
Le chant du canevas is an immersive work that invites you to explore a painting through your ears. An inclusive experience thought up by and for a blind person. The main objective is to unveil a mental image in the mind of the participant. On the one hand, loudspeakers are placed around the work to create an immersive musical structure containing sound ambiences; the movement in the space thus making emerge the pictorial narration.
ALBUM PHOTOS
