Sympathetic Sentience Three is an interactive sound installation which generates complex patterns of rhythmic sound through ‘emergent complexity’. Each of the 12 comparatively simple, identical electronic units is alone capable of the most simple on/off chirping rhythm and light emissions. Rhythmic and melodic complexity develops through communication among the units. The work is perversely interactive, as a visitor moves in the darkened room, they may cut infrared lines of communication. This can result in a ‘dead spot’ in the cycling rhythm, or complete silence. It then takes several minutes for the complexity of the behavior to build up again. .

Bio

Simon Penny is an Australian artist, theorist and teacher in the field of Electronic and Interactive Media Art. He curated Machine Culture, a world survey of interactive art (at SIGGRAPH 93 in Anaheim CA) and edited the anthology Critical Issues in Electronic Media (SUNY Press 1995). His recent publications include "The Virtualisation of Art Practice: Body knowledge and the Engineering World View" (CAA Art Journal Fall 97) and The Darwin Machine: Artificial Life and Interactive Art, (New Formations UK, #29, 1996, Technoscience Issue). His art practice consists of interactive and robotic installations, which have been exhibited in the US, Australia and Europe.

Jamieson Schulte is an electrical engineer and sound artist. He is currently research staff in the CMU Computer Science Department, focusing on the use of machine learning in building control at the 'Intelligent Workplace' laboratory. His sound experiments involve dynamic electronic synthesis and composition systems that interact with human players. He has worked collaboratively with Simon Penny since 1995, developing code and hardware for Petit Mal, Sympathetic Sentience and Fugitive.