Motion Disabled
Motion Disabled
Simon McKeown
4 August - 16 September 2009
Using motion capture technology the project explores and archives bio-diversity of the human body as genetics, medical technologies and social progress seek to remove various ‘bodies’ from our visual and biological culture. This digital media exhibition aims to inspire debate and raise awareness of disabled people in our society. Producer Paul Darke
Motion Disabled is a moving digital sculpture, which uses motion capture technology, the creation of a 3-D representation of a live performance usually associated with animated feature films. It has been created by recording the physical movements of physically impaired people with conditions such as Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy and Brittle Bones.
The movements carried out during their daily lives have been filmed, such as using crutches, wheelchairs, bikes and unaided physical movements. Sound and motion have also been recorded to simulate bathing, eating, shopping, relaxing and many other actions. The motion capture has been attached to a simple figure of a skeleton which moves on a white background with basic shapes as props.
The films play out across 5 monitors facing each other in Faith House Gallery, each one forming a separate performance of 15 minutes. Presented alongside are a series of digital 3-D printed maquettes, which physically represent the films, they enable viewers to further engage and explore ideas of normality and difference.
When asked about the project, the artist Simon Mckeown, Reader of Computer Animation at the University of Teesside, said:
‘I used this technology to capture for now and the future the
motions of ‘difference’, in order to ask questions including
do we value difference? How do disabled people's bodies fit
into current notions of normality? And, is physical diversity
about to become Virtual?’
The actors who performed in Motion Disabled include Mat Fraser, Frank Letch, Craig Salisbury, Tanya Raabe, Paul Darke, Steve Graham, Simon Mckeown, Pauline Heath, Luke Hardwick, Richard Hardesty.
Motion Disabled is sponsored by the Wellcome Trust, Teesside University and Outside Centre
Review in The Times