DISRUPTIVE CRITTERS

DUCKWORTH HULLICK DUO

In partnership with RMIT University

INSTALLATION VERSION:

SIGGRAPH, DENVER

28 July – 1 August 2024

COLORADO CONVENTION CENTRE, EXHIBIT HALL F – 11am-5pm.

LINK TO SIGGRAPH WEBSITE

As an installation:

Disruptive Critters is a playful interactive audiovisual installation designed for live sound art performances by the DuckworthHullickDuo. Amid advances in artificial intelligence, Disruptive Critters provides a humorous exploration of future creativity and digital disruption through the vocalized performative possibilities of autonomous computer-generated critters. Each Critter, with a unique visual identity and vocal repertoire, expresses human emotions, creating layered compositions. The autonomous entities interact dynamically, evolving in sonic complexity and animated form, offering an ambiguous, surprising, and melodic sonic experience. Disruptive Critters challenges traditional sound art that transforms galleries into dynamic performance spaces, offering a unique perspective on human-technology and creativity.

More broadly:

Disruptive Critters is both a concert and free play exhibition. The concert is a 50-minute performance by James Hullick and Jonathan Duckworth playing the DHD’s bespoke DC tabletop audio-visual interface in surround sound.

Versions of the work have been presented in Australia at Tura New Music (2018, WA); RMIT Gallery (2021, Future:U, Victoria); The Meat Market (2017, JOLT Arts, Victoria) and JOLTED Arts Space (2023). Internationally the work has been presented in Barcelona (2017, Sonar+D) and Japan (2023, Bank Arts Yokohama, Urban Guild Kyoto).

Disruptive Critters explores digital disruption through the theatrical and performativity of autonomous computer generated agents, interactive media and digital design. Using a multi-touch tabletop console, audiences, or players, activate real-time computer generated virtual avatars (or critters), which roam the virtual performance space. The critters, each with their own sound world and gestural repertoire, become autonomous co-performers in the work, interacting with players and with each other in seemingly unpredictable ways. Players will be immersed in a responsive, interactive world where virtual beings teem and flock, collide and collude in various forms of playful mischief.

ALBUM

ARTISTS

James Hullick & Jonathan Duckworth: Artistic Direction & Live Performance

Jonathan Duckworth: Interactivity Design

Hullick: Sound Design

Ross Eldridge: Computer Programming

Casey Rice: Computer Programming

Hullick: Prerecorded Voice

Justine Anderson: Prerecorded Voice

Astrid Bolcskey-Hullick: Prerecorded Voice & Video Performance

Charlotte Bolcskey: Prerecorded Voice

Photography: Tim McNeilage, WoW Studios

PREVIOUS SHOWINGS

SIGGRAPH: Colorado Convention Centre, Denver: 28 July – 1 Aug

Urban Guild, Kyoto: 28 Sep 2023

Bank Art Station, Yokohama: 24 Sep 2023

JOLTED Arts Space, Melbourne: 1 Jul 2023

RMIT Gallery, Melbourne: 11:00am, 29 Jul 2021 – 5:00pm, 26 Feb 2022

PS ARTSPACE & TURA NEW MUSIC, Perth: 29-31 Oct 2018

MEAT MARKET, Melbourne Music Week: 17-18 Nov 2017

SONAR+D, Barcelona: 14-17 June 2017

Supported by RMIT University. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body. This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. Project partners have included: Ritsumeikan University, RMIT University, The Toyota Foundation, and the Australia Japan Foundation.

Duckworth Hullick Duo