handpainted mannequin heads, custom electronics, wood, metal
mechanical design: Colin Harry
machining: Paul Cahill
In the kinetic sculpture, the conversation, two handpainted antique mannequin heads mimic a 12 minute video of two women in conversation. The work uses 3 axises of movement and took over three years to produce. For the heads to follow the video, in sync, in real time, each axis of movement was visually seperated out and digitally programmed. There is no audio in the video, rather the focus lies with tracking the twists and turns of the heads, the slight movement and the hesitations. Superceding voice, the overlooked gestures interpret the interaction: the subtle nods, the slight turns, hesitations etc. that take place as two people talk to each other.
2006 Art Fiction. Galerie Art Mûr, Montréal, Québec.