Performans

Digital Heaven is a new media performance featuring a solo dancer and her digital double, exploring the evolving relationship between the human body and its digital representation through innovative technologies and gesture recognition, with a level of improvisation adding dynamic spontaneity to the choreographic spectacle. It is the result of a collaboration between Cristina Bodnărescu (concept, visuals, programming), and Oana Băluță (performance, after a choreography by Anamaria Guguian), with sound and music by duo Ethics of Joy (Cristina Bodnărescu and George Urse). 

This visually poetic choreographic performance explores the potential evolution and transcendence of the human body in the digital era. It delves into concepts such as the digital double, bodily camouflage, and agency attributed to technology. Through the use of interactive technologies like motion sensors, body-mapped projections, and gesture recognition, Digital Heaven brings to the forefront the intricate connection between the human body and its representation in the digital realm, underscoring the blurring boundaries between the physical and the simulated.

The dancer and her digital double explore new forms of communication and expression, emerging at the convergence of these two spaces. The human body undergoes physical augmentations and transformations, vividly portrayed through the body-mapped projections, while the digital double, as a form of artificial intelligence, learns and develops based on its analog counterpart until it seems to have achieved self-awareness.

What adds a layer of spontaneity and unpredictability to the performance is the incorporation of gesture recognition technology, introducing an element of improvisation. As the cues change based on certain real-time gestures of the performer, the dance unfolds with a dynamic fluidity, making each rendition of Digital Heaven unique. 

This multidimensional performance not only pushes the boundaries of artistic expression but also prompts contemplation on the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. Digital Heaven beckons audiences to witness the synergistic interplay of the physical and digital realms, encouraging reflection on the profound transformations occurring within the human experience in this age of technological convergence.

Projekt

The interactive projection, extracted from the performance of the same name, offers a unique experience, where up to 6 participants can engage with their own digital doppelgängers composed of constantly moving pixels. This dedicated space for movement-based exploration becomes a shared and communal experience, allowing individuals to engage with the digital doppelgängers in a collective or personal manner. The work could spark reflections on the intersection of the physical and digital selves, raising questions about identity, self-perception, and the impact of technology on our understanding of self.