Concept:

"Intro Act" is an interactive computer installation, which was developed by Sommerer & Mignonneau for the 95 Biennale de Lyon and in is now in the permanent collection of the Musee d'Art Contemporain in Lyon France.

In "Intro Act" visitors enter the installation space and immediately will find themselves projected into a virtual space in front of them.

As they move their body in the real space, different three dimensional evolution of abstract organic forms will be synchronized and linked to the visitors movement and gestures. Like exploring a different universe, the visitor will try to orient himself, finding out which movement will cause which event. Lifting for example his arm, will suddenly lead to extensive development of wild growth explosions out of his hand.

Other behavior and movement will lead to destruction of organic forms, whereas other gestures will lead to construction, expansion and differentiation of the virtual species. The visitor becomes totally engulfed by this virtual world, the longer he or she interacts, the more he or she will be part of the system. The visitor continuously sees himself inside this three dimensional world, he defines it, creates it, destroys it and explores it.

"Intro Act" represents a universe of unexplored abstract organic forms that react and interact with human beings.

A NEW 3D KEY

A new system of "3D key " developed by Mignonneau for the work

"Trans Plant" by Sommerer & Mignonneau at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography 95, is integrated into the system of "Intro Act". It allows the visitor for the first time, to enter the virtual space totally unencumbered by devices, but still be displayed as a 3 dimensional person. For the first time the visitor can to be in front of objects, behind them, cross them or touch them.

All movement and exploration is in real-time, the comparison of 3D space and the 3D position of the visitor has therefore no delay. The feeling of really being inside the 3D space is enhanced by the fact, that the visitor sees his own full image inside the virtual world and thus is able to explore the virtual space very naturally and freely.

Several people can be displayed at the same time inside the virtual world, but one person will lead the interaction.

The aim of "Intro Act" is to create a personal environment, where visitors find themselves freely interacting with the virtual space, become part of it and essentially create this space by themselves. The virtual space thus can be considered as ones personal expression of movement, gestures and behavior by linking the creation of forms to the visitors interaction.

"Intro Act" (c) 95-97, CNAP Laurent MIGNONNEAU & Christa SOMMERER