The Beall Center for Art

When I attended the Beall Center at the UCI campus I viewed this exhibit of "Birds". I realized quickly what the focus was as the pneumatic apparatus began to fill with air. I love birds and I enjoyed observing the birds flight as I continuously walked in a circular motion around the project. If a person stands still the birds rest but as the observer grows closer the birds take flight to escape the passers-by. As you take a closer look at this picture, one views the narrow tubes above the birds transferring the compressed air to create movement in this fabricated sculpture.

 I am not sure what this is suppose to be but it resembles a shuttle.  The design looks like many elongated shaped balloons.  I had no idea what I was walking into when I arrived.  I thought I was going to see this giant blue balloon like dog; however, I missed that exhibit and I was pleasantly surprised by these two exhibits. It was quite loud in the studio as these sculptures would mechanically inflate with air.  There was an intermittent hissing and braking sound resonating throughout the gallery as people walked around to observe. 

Stelarc

 Stelarc is an Australian performance artist who pushes the capabilities of the human body by robotic manipulations. Modern technological creations are integrated with his body that reveal involuntarily movement that appear not feasibly possible. Also, pneumatics is used in Stelarc's functional mechanical performances. The compression of air or gases transfer through the apparatus creating movement pushing the limitations of body limbs.As I view some of his work I am reminded of the movie, The Matrix.  In the scene when Neo is reborn, he is first unhooked by all systems which are currently sustaining his fictional life form and than he is transported to the main ship by a mechanical robotic arm. This scene is so raw and intriguing. I especially cringe when I view the many nodules left on his body that must be further removed.