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Artist in residence creates portraits using brainwave zctivity

29 June 2016

Digital media artist, George Khut, is creating a spectacular form of digital portraiture involving public participants.

The National Portrait Gallery is pleased to be hosting digital media artist, George Khut, to create a spectacular form of digital portraiture involving public participants.

Titled Behind Your Eyes, Between Your Ears, the project will create a collection of digital portraits controlled by the sitter’s alpha brainwave patterns.

Artist and interaction-designer, George Khut, is fascinated by the ways in which interactions encourage new ways of thinking about connections between body, mind and technology.

‘What interests me is our deep desire to imagine and visualise the experience of these inner states in terms of colour and energy – and what these new forms of interactive art experience can help us understand about body-mind interactions,’ said George.

Director of the Portrait Gallery, Angus Trumble, believes this project will be a unique and fascinating opportunity for visitors.

‘We are really excited to be involved in George’s innovative portraiture project, which would not have been possible without the generous support of artsACT. The interactive nature of this work has generated a lot of public interest to participate and we hope visitors to the gallery will take the opportunity to observe participants’ experiences of the project,’ said Angus.

Minister for Small Business and the Arts, Chris Bourke MLA, is pleased the ACT Government, is able to provide these types of opportunities through the Arts Residencies ACT program.

‘This is an exciting and innovative interactive arts project in Canberra – I don’t think we’ve seen anything like this here before,’ said Minister Bourke.

‘Using biomedical sensing technology to reflect brainwave activity, the artist creates beautiful interactive portraits exploring the concept of embodiment.

The display will be active at the Gallery in a public studio space from Wednesday to Sunday between Wednesday 29 June and Sunday 17 July 2016. Gallery visitors are welcome to observe participants.

George Khut is an artist and interaction designer working across the fields of electronic art, design and health. He lectures in art and interaction design at the University of New South Wales Art & Design (formerly CoFA).

To learn more about the residency from the artist himself, attend Khut’s presentation about the project on Sunday 3 July from 2.00pm to 3.00pm; no bookings are required. 

The project is generously supported by artsACT through its Arts Residencies ACT program.

For interviews, images, or further information please contact Diane Morris.

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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