Robotlab
Robotlab is an organization which works with industrial robots in public spaces. It mainly explores the relationship between human and machine by means of installations and experformances. Robotlab is founded 2000 by Matthias Gommel, Martina Haitz and Jan Zappe. The free artist group is associated to the Institute of Visual Media at the ZKM - Center of Art and Media Karlsruhe, Deutschland.
In the past 10 years, Robotlab has created so many experimental situations in different exhibition spaces, in which the public has the opportunity to interact with robots. Actually, all of its art works are involving various aspects such as music, science and fine art. Anyway, it is a good chance for people to meet robots in public and some exhibitions. Therefore, humans can have contact with them and experience how they behave and know how to behave correctly with them.
juke_bots 2001
zone 2001
autoportrait 2002
With reference to its works, it inspires me to think about what art properly is. No doubt, the answers are endless and no model answers can be found. What the most important thing is the ways we treat it. If we try to create something about sound like the installation called “Instrument” by the Robotlab, we will have a specific answer about art like “Art is an instrument”. It reveals that art can be the tools for us to express what we would like to create.
All in all, it also seems like what the Robotlap explores. The relationship between human and machine is not that complicated. Machines can help human for both industrial uses and creating art works which is exactly the relationship of symbiosis.
profiler 2004
instrument 2005
However, the outcomes of the robot is not detailed enough which shows that the programming techniques are far from the maturity. For example, the Autoportrait and Profiler by the robot cannot draw the people in detail and realistic ways. Therefore, the programme set should be improved in order to enhance the realism of the art works produced. I believe that the drawings will be much better if the colors can be added to the drawings.
bios [bible] 2007
Manifesto 2008
Actually, I believe that the artist would like to have robots doing what humans do. It can help human save a lot of time and money because robots can be the tools for the artists to create their artworks or the robots are exactly a part of the artwork which is a good simulation of the human beings. It also can inspire the artists to create something new with the elements of robots. Therefore, the robots could actually expand the diversity of art.
Although the robots are very useful, the outcomes from the robots may not satisfy all people because of the place of subjectivity in the process of art production. For example, I am a person who cares about the detailed things, so I am not satisfied by the performance of the robots in the Autoportrait and Profiler. However, I still love the other works done by the robots very much. Therefore, most people are very subjective towards the art. Nevertheless, I believe that art is not only about making bot also the conception of it, so I still appreciate the concept of simulation in the Autoportrait and Profiler.
In a nutshell, most installations by the Robotlab are surprising and inspiring which are good for me for reference.
