Applications of New Technologies in Culture and Art

Applications of New Technologies in Culture and Art Irina L. Vanechkina In Soviet times, 10 all-union Light and Music conferences and seminars were held on the initiative of SKB "Prometheus " in Kazan, the capital of the Republic ofTatarstan. Then the USSR collapsed unexpectedly, and one had the impression that this meant the death of light, and of music too. Such an attitude of mind is reflected in a Leonardo article by the director of SKB "Prometheus," Bulat Galeyev, symbolically titled "Farewell Prometheus Readings " [1]. Fortunately, the ends predicted by these pessimistic forecasts failed to materialize . Time cures wounds. SKB "Prometheus" has resumed holding "Prometheus Readings" and has broadened the scope of these light-music conferences and seminars. A seminar on computer and video art [2] was held in 1994, and a seminar on applications of new technologies in culture and art tookplace on 6-7June 1995. Following "Prometheus" tradition, the first report in the culture and art seminar was devoted to Scriabin and his creative work (I. Vanechkina, B. Galeyev). I. Chudnovskaya discussed the idea-similar to some of Scriabin's Irina L. Vanechkina, Teatrlanaya 3-3, Kazan 420111, Russia. ideas--of including light in the musical piece "Alilluya," by contemporary composer S. Gubaidullina. There were several reports on another seminar devoted to computer-supported simulation of music (by M. Zalivadny from St. Petersburg, M. Rytvinskaya and S. Bryuno from Kazan). All the speakers on this topic emphasized with pleasure that Kazan scientists R. Zaripov and R. Bukharayev were the first to conduct experiments in the field more than 30 years ago. A number of reports were accompanied by demonstrations of multimedia programs, including an educational application developed for technical institutes (by M. Morozov) and programs on the history of aviation (A. Suchkov) and the history and culture ofTatarstan (F. Kozenko). Galeyev discussed computer-image specificity in terms of Plato's eidos. V. Chudnovsky focused on another peculiarity of computer images-"weightlessness ." A. Shafigullin and I. Akhtyamov shared their "secrets" for creating complex photo-realistic images using simple computer animation programs. A. Shumilov explained his experiments with fractal graphics. But it was his ''TV set without a screen" that attracted the greatest attention. The essence of this invention is as follows: the image is created by rotating an optical bundle with a chain of photodiodes fixed on it, the lighting ofwhich is controlled by computer. But new technologies are not limited to computers. Interference light filters manufactured in Kazan were demonstrated at the conference along with the "Prometheus" Institute's new achievements in the field oflaser art. And Moscovite Vyacheslav Koleychuk provoked general enthusiasm with his demonstrations of "holograms without lasers," which he creates on a sheet of metal by means of an ordinary needle. Proceedings were ready by the seminar opening date. Detailed information on Leonardo and the InternationalDirectoryofElectronic Arts (IDEA) was provided in the supplement to the proceedings, encouraging everybody to contribute to these publications. References 1. Bulat M. Galeyev, "Farewell Promethehs Readings : Light-Music in the Former Soviet Union," Leonardo 27, No.4, 351-352 (1994). 2. See Irina L. Vanechkina, "Computer and Video Art," Leonardo 28, No.2, 82-83 (1995). Manuscript received 11 July 1995. The International Laser Display Association Ivan Dryer Lasers have become ubiquitous in the industrialized West; they are encountered or used almost daily in retail sales, manufacturing, medicine and compact-disc playback as well as serving as lighting devices unto themselves. Many rock tours, clubs, theme parks and attractions, stage shows and plays, films, television shows and commercials Ivan Dryer, Laser Images, Inc., 6911 HayvenhurstAvenue, Van Nuys,CA91406,U.S.A. employ laser effects. Lasers are the basis of a commercial art form embodied in the many light-and-music shows offered in planetariums and other venues , principally in North America, The laser entertainment and display industry had its acknowledged beginning over 20 years ago with the introduction in planetariums of "Laserium" laser shows. Laser display then proliferated helter-skelter in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as audiences and dozens of engineers, artists and entrepreneurs (usually combined in the same individuals ) became enthralled with laser light. In August of 1986, representatives of 21 laser display companies met to form...