This week’s reading from Tigoe was all about Physical Computing and interactive media art, and it was super enlightening. One part that really caught my attention was the reading on Making Interactive Art. It talked about three key things to keep in mind when creating interactive artwork: setting the stage, shutting up, and listening.
The idea that your artwork should speak for itself really stuck with me. Many times, we create art and start questioning ourselves – is it good enough? How do I explain my thoughts behind it? This reading basically said, you don’t have to explain anything. Your artwork can stand on its own.
This got me thinking about the interactive showcase we saw at the beginning of the semester. We were given the freedom to explore, touch, sit, stand, and feel. It was about being alone together. The artist didn’t have to explain anything; the experience spoke for itself. It made me aspire to create art that lets people think what they want.
Connecting this to another reading, Physical Computing hits and misses, I realized that the sense of freedom in interactive art extends to the technical side too. Even if something similar has been done before, you have the liberty to make changes and adjustments. Set the stage, make it your own, and then, shut up and listen. This means letting your work be interpreted by others who might have seen something similar but are experiencing a different variation through your lens.
These readings teach us crucial lessons for dealing with interactive art. Don’t let external opinions affect your work. Do what you need to do and let the art speak for itself. It’s about giving your audience the freedom to perceive and connect with your work on their terms.