Generator
Glasgow Gallery of
Modern Art
In 1996 Hex were asked to contribute an installation to the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art which was then under construction. The piece, called 'Generator' was installed in the Fire Gallery along with a number of interactive art pieces.
Generator is an interactive installation which allows users to mix sound, video, text and graphics and make their own audio-visual mix. The technology is based on techniques used by DJs and VJs in clubs and live performance events.
Generator consists of two consoles -- the left hand one controls how the sounds are played and the right hand one controls how the images are played. Sounds and images are arranged according to type and the user can choose which types of sound and image to mix. For example, they might select a hip-hop drum break, some operatic vocals and a rock guitar to play whilst the screen shows space footage and random slogans.
The purpose of Generator is to show how technology can be used in an entertaining and creative way and how random combinations of media can produce an interesting audio-visual collage. Generator is designed for 2 to 4 players and about 10 spectators. It runs off 2 PC computers and an Acorn Archimedes. The piece was conceived and designed by Robert Pepperell in collaboration with Dianne Harris and computer coding done by Miles Visman.
Link to Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art