Laughing My Guts Out
A physically interactive sonic installation for the whole family
For children and child-minded adults: bounce around with huge cartoon-like guts as you compose a live soundscape. Built using the same process as a ‘bouncy castle’ the inflatable structures are fitted with electronic sensors that drive an array of computer-based sounds – much like playing a musical instrument each bounce creates its own live sound. Although spectating is hugely enjoyable it’s not difficult to understand the interface – just through yourself in and listen to the results!
Andy Best was born in the south of England, 1963. Since 1988 he has lived and worked in Helsinki. Merja Puustinen was born in Hamina, Finland, 1963. The two have collaborated since 1993. Both have a background in sculpture, video and installation art. They were amongst the first online web artists, and during the mid to late 1990’s worked with virtual multiuser 3D worlds on the Internet. With their company Meetfactory they developed a 3D multiuser community platform and virtual pet or Tamagotchi for mobile phones. They now concentrate their artistic activities on large-scale installations and interactive works. Best and Puustinen run the Digital Arts degree course at Turku University of Applied Sciences. Merja Puustinen is presently completing doctoral research at the Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki.
Photos: Pekka Mäkinen