Control System Interference (CSI) | Steve Gibson & Paul Goodfellow

Description

Control System Interference (CSI) explores the harmonic balance of systems and how they can be disrupted by external forces. Gibson crafts a live sonic environment controlled through embodied gesture, and Goodfellow creates a visual landscape controlled through embodied movement. Each ecosystem — the audio and the visual — operates as an open system kept in balance by its artist, in much the same way Earth self-regulates.

The project uses two Leap Motion Controllers to control a complex audio-visual system, mapping spatial movement to audio-visual result in a transparent but rich manner. It builds upon the insights gained through Gibson's VRitual AV project.

The dialectical relationship between technology and the environment is explored both thematically and structurally in CSI, bringing into focus the nature of systems and how they can be both controlled and disrupted by forces that act upon them. As human technology disrupts the Earth, the Earth disrupts technology — and this is played out in CSI with the musician disrupting the visual signals and the visual artist disrupting the audio signals. Each performer simultaneously attempts to keep their own system in balance while disrupting the balance and flow of information of the other.

CSI serves as a metaphor for the complex relationship between humanity and the environment. By mirroring the way technological advancements can unsettle ecological balance, the project invites audiences to contemplate the consequences of interference within any system — be it natural or artificial. It underscores the potential for both discord and innovation when systems intersect and influence one another. Through this collaborative exploration, the project aims to foster a deeper understanding of interconnectedness and the possibilities that arise from embracing both harmony and disruption — a living entity, constantly evolving as the performers interact and interfere, much like the ever-changing state of the technosphere. CSI is an artistic investigation into balance, change, and the new forms that emerge when information streams are crossed and systems converge.

Carbon Footprint Statement

CSI is consciously designed to have a minimal environmental impact. The project utilises compact and energy-efficient devices — two laptops, two small control surfaces and two Leap Motion Controllers — plus the audio-visual equipment already available at the performance venue. By limiting equipment to these essentials, the project significantly reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with large-scale productions.