Creation, Performance, Interaction

Alison Kotin, MFA ’11

thesis abstract

To explore the creative potential of interaction with dynamic media, I make participatory works that spark collaborative, unscripted performance and play. By creating tactile, motion-powered digital interfaces modeled on musical instruments, I hope to encourage a spirit of curiosity and experimentation, leading participants to reflect on the process of creation as they perform. These open-ended, interactive situations favor chance and ambiguity, adding a layer of metaphor or unexpected responsiveness to familiar objects and places.

In considering the nature of experience and performance, I gather lessons from the history of performance art, avant-garde musical composition, and studio arts pedagogy. Historically, “relational” performative artworks have sought to foster community and creativity by making spectators an integral part of a performance piece as it unfolds towards completion. Modern dynamic media objects have the potential to create experiences and outputs that are variable, personalized, and evolving over time, redefining the author’s role and blurring the boundary between “user” and “designer.”

Download “Creation, Performance, Interaction” (PDF, 6 MB).