2 Augmented Reality sculptures and soundtracks
Shown as part of the Art Plus exhibition in Liepaja
Friday, November 22
LINK
Collaboration of visual artist Kristine Martinova and sound artist Roberto Becerra. Proverbial is an exhibition about the coincidences, and the differences of Lithuanian and Latvian languages. Using proverbs as a vehicle, the artists play with layers of political, environmental and social meanings, information, sonic properties and patterns of this culturally transmitted wisdom.
Kristine Martinova is an artist and illustrator who has been exploring the similarities between Baltic languages, particularly Latvian and Lithuanian. She is interested in identifying confusing situations where phrases and sayings may sound or be written similarly but have different meanings. For this project, Kristine has provided her interpretation from the Latvian point of view for two chosen lifelong wisdoms.
In this work, Roberto focuses on the idea that proverbs convey vast experiential information gathered by oral tradition through centuries, and preserved in a sonic shape with distinct melodic, rhythmic and harmonic forms, that in themselves carry information.. He then uses recordings of 2 spoken proverbs in Lithuanian and Latvian; processes, stretches, bends, transposes and chops them to extract sonic features that may be representative of the information and mood contained in the proverbs.
The sounds are given a musical shape, underlying the meeting of language, sound and music.
“Don’t spit in the well – you may need to drink from it!”
This phrase talks about being careful not to harm something valuable, as you may need it in the future. Kristine depicts an angry well that spits out dirty water. It represents our modern society’s attitude towards nature.. The paradox here is that we pollute what we need the most for our well-being. We do this to ourselves, we are spitting on the future, and we will drink from it.
“Talk to others the way you want to be talked to (you get what you give)”
They may yell, or have a wise exchange. The power of language and the words we say, partly lies in the power that we will eventually have on ourselves. Communication is a difficult process, and it can take a bitter turn at times. In the current [timeless] situation one would benefit from wiser, and more prudent communication.
Kristine visually shows the power of discussion. Two men argue with each other. Their tongues transform into two snakes that twist around each other, like words in a conversation. In the end, the words we use may come back to us, much like a boomerang – you get back what you give.
Project supporting team
Curation and production: Maija Demiter, Rodger Jupijn
3D artist: Jekaterina Jevdokimova transformed the 2D sketches into real shapes. Her animation skills gave a gasp of life to both sculptures.
Developer: Patrick Borgeat provided all the technical support to integrate the pieces into the Art+ app.
