July 10

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Eric Siu - July 2010
Hello friends, Sorry for the mass email. I just want to share my latest pieces "Machine Motion no.1 - Box from Home" and "Happiness and Detour" of my thesis project in UCLA. Please see the detail below. Do check out the vimeo links, which are more interesting than the still images. At the bottom of this letter, I also included other projects I produced in UCLA. One update of myself, I am completing my graduate degree in UCLA, and I am glad to share you my next move, which will be in Japan! I am going to work with Ishikawa-Komuro Laboratory at the University of Tokyo to develop some new projects. I am really excited about it, and If you happen to be in Tokyo, please let me know. All the best, Eric www.ericsiuart.com
Machine Motion no.1 - Box from Home \| 2010 \| Kinetic Sculpture “Machine Motion no.1 – Box from Home” uses automation to depict the journey of a parcel shipped from home. Video Documentary 1: http://www.vimeo.com/12436283 Video Documentary 2: http://www.vimeo.com/12437330
Sign Series - Happiness and Detour \| 2010 \| Kinetic Sculpture Happiness “Happiness” draws the Chinese character for happiness with a motor, a timing belt, pulleys and bearings. It is presented as a “Hui Chun” – a Chinese New Year fortune message. Detour “Detour” draws the right turn road sign with a motor, a timing belt, pulleys and bearings. Video Documentary: http://www.vimeo.com/12437859
Other Project Produced in UCLA
Body Hack \| 2009 \| Interactive Installation	A Peacemax Tree \| 2008 \| Kinetic Sculpture	A Couple of Irons \| 2008 \| Interactive Device
Body Hack is a full body interactive cinematic role hacking karaoke game. It allows players to hack iconic cinematic or televisual figures with their own body and their on-screen double. It triggers one's desire of imitating known personae in a hilarious situation. Nevertheless, it raises critical issues of our embodied experience with the mediated body.	"A Peacemax Tree" is an interactive tree made of motors and laser-equipped toy guns. When nobody is around, this violent tree lets its guard down and dances to "White Christmas". But, when you enter its territory, the tree becomes nervous, and all guns point at you!	The marriage of “A Couple of Irons” unionizes a screen and a camera in two irons as a pair of toys that translates playful mediation. They destroy the meaning and subvert the function of a domestic appliance. As a couple of absurd visual devices, they encourage creative interaction. At the same time, they provoke a question. Is it a design object or an art piece?
www.body-hack.com	http://www.vimeo.com/5225794	http://www.vimeo.com/5224182