Description

Post consumer stainless steel, brass, and plastic off cuts, aluminium mesh, Tricolour LEDs, other various electronics.

When Enlightenment scientists worked to discover, study and preserve exotic fauna and flora found in the new world, they probably did not intend this knowledge to enable destruction of the environments they explored. However, indications of this potential were evident as exotic creatures were prized mainly as taxidermy specimens for display as curiosities, or symbols of wealth and status - trophies of travel to distant lands.

e. Menura Supurba is an interactive artwork. It explores the paradox between our fascination with the exotic, and our potentially dystopic future devoid of many animal species. The work hybridises seventeenth to early twentieth century aesthetics with refined post consumer waste materials, to create a simulacra of a lyre bird.

Australian lyre birds (initially designated Menura Supurba) have the remarkable ability to mimic natural and human sounds in their environment. Their vocal range and unusually long, wispy tail feathers, made lyre birds a nineteenth century curiosity. As taxidermy specimens, they were the most prized of all Australian birds.

Individual lyre bird’s have been documented making sounds such as camera shutters, flute and piano melodies, even chain saws. This repertoire has value beyond mere curiosity. It is also an interesting gauge of our acoustic environment as it mimics sound pollution - an often overlooked interaction between humanity and the natural world.

In this work the naturally shy lyre bird, becomes curious. Especially attracted by colourful clothing, it will sing and change the colour of its plumage to mimic clothing worn by people, in an attempt to attract an audience.

The lyre bird has one of the most complex calls of any bird, which it uses to attract a mate. In this work and these calls are used to attract an audience. It’s song invites people to come closer, to inspect his intricate clear polycarbonate plumage, which is illuminated by an array of 35 tri-colour LEDs.

Once e. Menura Superba has attracted an audience, it shows it’s repertoire of plumage colours, recorded from previous encounters with other people. If it recognizes a face, it studies the person’s clothes. If the colours are of interest, or the person pays a lot of attention to the sculpture, it will remember the clothing colours, for inclusion in his next display when new people attracted by it’s call. Over time, the sculpture develops a repertoire of calls and plumage colours, derived from audience interaction.

Portraits of e Menura Superba

The head of the sculpted bird moves up and down and from side to side, using quirky head movements. The sculpture is equipped with facial recognition and tracking software to directs these movements. A sense of intelligence results from these two simple elements, as the bird appears to recognise faces, at times looking directly into one’s eyes. This behaviour becomes especially pronounced when it sees people wearing colourful clothing. Other behaviours include becoming nervous around large groups of people, or distant and moody when ignored. The impact of these characteristics is endearing. We have observed people showing different coloured objects to illicit different plumage patterns. Many also try to touch, stroke or even kiss the bird.

Images from ISEA 2009

Following images are installation views of e. Menura Superba at Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast for ISEA 2009.

Video of e Menura Superba

e Menura Superba Birds Eye View of ISEA 2009 Audience

e. Menura Superba also records images of the audience for later use. The artwork uses these images to recall colours of clothing, however, they are also a valuable documentation of audience interaction. The images below were taken during the ISEA 2009 Exhibition in Belfast. Many images contain people wearing distinct clothing. In one image a person is showing the bird yellow shopping bag. Some photos show people who are not wearing colourful clothing. It is likely these people have looked at the work for a length of time, attracting the bird’s eye.

Exhibitions

August 2009 Juried Exhibition International Symposium of Electronic Art (ISEA) 2009 Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Publications

Sade, G., Bracks, P. e. Menura Supurba: Post human Dreams of Ersatz Animals. Proceedings of the International Symposium of Electronic Arts 2009

Credits

e. Menura Superba is a Kuuki Production, and was realised by:

Artists: Priscilla Bracks and Gavin Sade

With assistance from:
Programming: Glen Wetherall
Metal Work: Dayataminda Rajapatirana

Additional Lyre Bird Sound Recordings courtesy of Sydney Curtis.

Made with Processing and Arduino.

Support

The premiere exhibition, at ISEA 2009, was made possible by the kind support of ISEA 2009, the University of Ulster, and the Queensland University of Technology.