2007-2010
Robot
Leo Peschta
The best way to describe this work is as an autonomous object that proliferates throughout the space it’s in. It’s a physical object whose purpose is to feel its way around and to articulate the relation between its on shape and its surroundings.
Its initial form is a regular tetrahedron, a highly symmetrical object (all corners, edges and surfaces are identical). By changing the length of its sides, it can break down this perfect symmetry, change its proliferation in space, and thus assume the proportions of a space. Each side is an autonomous entity. Equipped with a micro-controller, power supply and motors, it’s capable of determining its own length and thereby independently changing the form of the whole object.
The knowledge of the position and the extension of the individual modules and of the interrelationship among their respective positions enables the entire object to move freely within the space by shifting its center of gravity.
Once the machine arrives at the limits of its surroundings – three of it four corner points touch the boundaries of that space – the machine assumes a position that is ideal for it in the sense that it is stable and makes a strong statement, and the individual modules then save to memory their relative position to one another. These saved configurations serve as the basis for all subsequent movements.
Artist bio:
Leo Peschta ( born 1978 Austria)
After studies of photography and graphic design Leo Peschta attended the Academy of Applied Arts Vienna graduating 2007 in Digital-Media-Arts. He received international awards and stipends including the Heinrich-Klotz Stipendium (2003) and the robot-choice award(2008). He works as media artist in Vienna mostly in the field of robotics.
