the imperfect probe: personally expressive machines and why nonsense matters

Hackaday Superconference 2017

Presented by: Sarah Petkus
Date: Sunday November 12, 2017
Time: 10:45 - 11:25
Location: DesignLab
Track: Talk

I would like to talk about the mechanisms I created for an artist residency I had at ESA's technical facility this summer. The appendages I produced are caricatures of the scientific instruments used in space exploration. Rather than the pursuit of collecting data, their functions are inspired by the human need to be personally expressive. I will explain how I made them, also why I believe its important to create "serious nonsense", in a world where there is pressure to produce practical tools.

Sarah Petkus

I am a kinetic artist, roboticist, writer, and illustrator from Las Vegas, Nevada. I produce mechanical sculptures that execute nonsensical functions inspired by human qualities. I also illustrate a web comic about a post-human world, which the machines and technology we have created are left speculating about what "art" was. I also publish my projects and document my progress building them on my youtube channel, gravityRoad.


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