THE FLY'S EYE: Live spatial analysis and deconstruction of the video image.

THE FLY'S EYE Project (2002) creates an animated document of both space and time and draws inspiration from the structure, function and significance of the eye of the fly and other processes of vision. In The Fly's Eye, the history of a gallery space or film is built in layers of position and image.

Quicktime Video Example Recorded in residence at Daimon in Hull, Quebec (Approx 1.5 minutes, 820K)

Quicktime Video Example Recorded live at the Aronoff Center, Cincinnati 2002 (Approx 3 minutes, 17MB download)

 


FORMATS

INSTALLATION: In The Fly's Eye installation, multiple images are projected in the gallery space based on the movement of viewers in the space. The Fly's Eye 'watches' the viewer in the space while the viewer simultaneously enjoys some control and direction of the location of the image. Each time the viewer changes position, the live video feed moves and a visible trail is left in the gallery space.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The Fly's Eye consists of a computer system designed to perform a real-time spatial analysis and deconstruction of a live or pre-recorded video using a custom designed interface. Each video frame is tracked and analyzed according to the location of light, color, or motion in the frame. A copy of each video frame is placed in a grid according to the results of the analysis, and a live animation is created.

TECHNICAL SUMMARY

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

LARGE FORMAT DIGITAL PRINTS: Digital prints created include: a lighting analysis of Fellini's 8 1/2 in which the print is divided into a grid of 28 squares, each documenting a ten minute section of the film layered over the previous ten minutes; an analysis of the location of the color red in five minute sections of the film Moulin Rouge; and a lighting analysis of Bunuel's Un Chien Andalou in which the print is divided into three rectangles each documenting a 5-10 minute section of the film. Prints vary in size but are approximately 60" X42" (see samples below)

The installation and/or digital prints have been shown at:

 

SCHEMATIC OF BASIC SETUP

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Images 1-5: Installation at Apex Art Gallery in Tribeca, New York January 2002.  Visitors' movements in the gallery were tracked daily using a color video surveillance camera and the resulting analysis was shown live and  projected in the main space.  Click here for a Quicktime video from Apex. Click here for more pictures of the installation.

 

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Images 6-11: Print of lighting analysis of Fellini's "8 1/2". The print is divided into a grid of 28 squares. Each square documents a ten minute section of the film layered over the previous ten minutes. Images 6-8 show examples of the way each square builds on the previous. Images 9 and 10 show details of the squares. Image 11 shows the entire print, approx 45" X 60"

 

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Images 12-13: Print of an analysis of the location of the color red ina five minute section of the film "Moulin Rouge". Image 12 shows the entire print, image 13 shows a detail.

 

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Images 14-16: Print of lighting analysis of Bunuel's "Un Chien Andalou". The print is divided into three rectangles. Each rectangle documents a 5-10 minute section of the film. Images 14 and 15 show two of the rectangles. Image 16 shows the entire print, approx 45" X 60"

CONTACT INFORMATION Andrea Polli, Associate Professor Film and Media, Hunter College, 695 Park Ave. New York, NY 10021 212.772.5589 http://www.andreapolli.com

c2002 Andrea Polli