Collective residencies / ROBOTICS / Olot
ANA JOFRE
From Monday, 7 May 2018 to Thursday, 17 May 2018
Bio
Ana Jofre obtained her PhD in Physics from the University of Toronto, did Post-doctoral work at NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) in Gaithersburg Maryland, and taught -and did research – at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte for six years before transitioning her career towards the arts. She then completed her MFA at OCAD University in Toronto, then worked as a research fellow in the Visual Analytics Lab at OCAD University, and at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics Culture Analytics program at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. Her publications and conference presentations cover a wide range of intellectual interests, from physics to critical theory, and she has exhibited her artwork internationally. Her creative and research interests include figurative sculpture, interactive new media, public pedagogy, human-computer interaction, and data visualization. She is currently an Assistant Professor in Creative Arts and Technology at SUNY Polytechnic, in Utica NY.
Project
I will computationally construct personalities and express them through faces. The output of this project will be a series of 3d digital faces, constructed algorithmically in Blender. A computational algorithm that directs a 3-d digital model will be used to create the personalities by marking the face with a combination of facial expressions, analogous to how traditional mask makers create personalities by combining facial expressions onto a single mask. The facial expressions imprinted on each 3d digital model will be determined with a simple Markov Chain algorithm. Some selected faces will later be 3d printed and used to create marionettes.
A residency experience above and beyond my highest expectations
Before arriving at the Faber Residence, I simply expected to have quiet work time in a beautiful setting. Indeed, the residency gave me the time and space that I needed to work on (and complete) the project I had proposed, but the experience gave me so much more. To say that the setting is beautiful is an understatement. The residents were lodged at the hotel Riu Fluvià, which offers spectacular mountain views in all directions, and a friendly staff that made everyone feel at home. The room was large, with a balcony and a desk overlooking the view, which made for inspired and productive work.
In addition to the stunning backdrop of the natural scenery, Olot is a diverse, interesting, and culturally rich city. The city features beautiful modernist architecture, public art, and high-quality museums. During my stay, I had the opportunity to attend the Robolot conference, which revealed a great deal of activity and engagement with state-of-the-art technology in the region.
The residency staff ensured that all our needs were met, that we were connected to local activities of interest to us, and, most importantly, they created an atmosphere for stimulating intellectual exchange among the residents. Indeed, the intellectual exchange and connections created were the most valuable part of the residency. The residency organizers did an excellent job with curating the selection of residents such that we all had a great deal to share with and learn from one another.