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THE SCIENCE GALLERY in Dublin will open its doors to robot artists, eye-tracking software and other fascinating projects this summer.
The new exhibition SEEING: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? is all about challenging perceptions and looking at how machines and humans see things.
We headed down to Pearse Street to have a look at what’s on display there from today until 25 September.
3RNP or 3 Robots Named Paul is exactly like a life drawing class – except the artists are robots comprising of old school desks, web cams and robotic arms.
Visitors can sit down to be drawn by the robots and will be sent a digital version of their portraits.
The web cams look at their human subjects and then down at the page. The robot-arm sketches the pictures in an incredibly life-like way that’s also a bit eerie. The three robots draw at different speeds, from different angles and in slightly different styles.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie about why he created this piece, Patrick Tresset laughed and said he is a painter and was looking for something to replace him.
The London-based artist created the model in 2011 and has been working constantly to improve it since. His work has been exhibited all around the world, including in the Tate Modern in London, MMCA in Seoul and the Fondazione Prada in Milan.
Another exhibit that stood out was Mirror II – Distance, created by British artist David Cotterrell.
The exhibition consists of two white boxes, each with a small screen displaying a video of a security guard.
It’s based on the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. The entrances are monitored by local Pakistani guards and David was intrigued by the situation when he visited.
He described the idea:
I wanted to show the risk of polarising communities. Distance reduces the chance for empathy
When you’re watching from a distance, you can’t tell if the stereotype you have assumed in your head is the right one and these guards won’t leave their post.
He said that Pakistan is full of challenges but problems of perception are common in every country.
It’s actually quite a welcoming country. Some parts are even as liberal as certain cities in Great Britain. There’s so many tribes and languages – as much diversity as countries closer to us.
This is the second of five mirror projects that challenge relationships. Cotterall has already done one with a doctor and patient. He is hoping to base the next three in Rwanda and Burundi, Derry and Palestine.
There are two floors of interactive projects, videos and information to experience at the exhibition.
Try out some eye-movement tracking software or see how distorted your face has to become before digital recognition software can’t pick it up.
There’s also optometry technology to check your retinas and an exhibit that explores the association of colours and music notes.
The SEEING: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? exhibition is open to the public today in the Science Gallery Dublin and will run until 25 September.
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And who pays the bill?
Half a story here on the journal
Tom Feely will pay in bitcoins
The €47k that the residents paid last year to Kildare Co Co in LPT would more than comfortably cover the cost of lighting and sewage…
With no street lights how will the kids ever know when it’s time to come in?
I heard the post was late in another estate today. Where’s the journal on that one? One would think someone in the journal lives in the above estate.
I think there’s a pothole being filled in Dingle today also.
Damn it. Dingle gets everything.
Electricity for kilcock…. The future is now…..! Them swans in the canal must be delighted…!
No it’s not a “piss take” …
Yes a lot of ppl have no street lights at all…. The difference with this estate is there are street lights – which have been switched off without notice – why should the next estate have lights and not this one??
It is a built up town not two houses on a five mile country road! It needs lights for various reasons!
There are many estates like this which did not make the news – as no one bothered to stand up and make it happen!!
I’m sure the rate payers of Kildare will be happy.
This has to be a piss-take.
I’s hopes that youse can still see the stars ..lol lol
At last, some light at the end of the tunnel!
Such a relief
Um, what about the sewage plant? The maintenance of the lighting? Who will be paying to ensure services are maintained for the people living there?
The residents in the form of their Local property tax….. Its just a shame that the sheeple of Ireland are not prepared to stand up for what is their LEGAL rights.. When big Phil announced the LPT he justified it by saying it paid for street lighting. Chambers Park residents paid €47k last year in LPT, this would power the sewage system and pay for street lights for 3 YEARS.
You misunderstand, Pa. I was asking which body would be responsible, the local authority? The article never even touched on such questions.
As far as I can see, and your figures back it up, estate dwellers pay far more in LPT than they draw down.
Yet another reason that ghost estates should be treated more equitably.
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