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|     MAKE ART 2007   |   CALL FOR PROJECTS    |    SUBMISSION FORM   |
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please:
- fill all the sections
- tick the relevant boxes


o=======================o PROJECT INFORMATION o=======================o

PROJECT/ARTWORK/PRESENTATION NAME
   Offener Schaltkreis
   (open circuit)

CATEGORY
   [ ] performance / concert
   [ ] presentation / lecture
       language :
   [x] installation

YEAR OF PRODUCTION
   [x] pre-existing project
       year of first presentation : 2006
   [ ] presented for the first time at Make Art
       started in :

SHORT DESCRIPTION
A silent labyrinth created out of open copper trails on the floor carries the
electrical signals of a multichannel sound repository. By putting wireless
speaker-cylinders on them, the carried soundlayers can become audible and
the interpretation by the visitors gets possible.
The "Offene Schaltkreis" reacts depending on the manner in which the speakers are used:
If nothing is moved, the sounds stay calm and soft, but as soon as a single cylinder is
placed elsewhere, the sounds of all speakers intensify simultaneously.
This results in a dynamic relation between silence and noise, which is influenced by
the visitors.

REASONS WHY FREE/LIBRE OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE IS USED FOR THE PROJECT
Since this work originated out of the seminar series "Open Source For Arts" (OSFA) at
the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, the use of open sourced software was indeed one of the few
fixed preconditions for developing this project.
The installation tries to empower the visitors/listeners to act on their own.
We try to give them the freedom to use the installation, just as they can imagine.
This attempt finds its counterpart in the use of free software, with the reach for empowerment
to use and modify software just as we can imagine.

But of course, there are pragmatic arguments for the use of open source in works of media art,
too. On the one hand, since free software is also free as in "free beer", it eases the situation
for the constantly underfinanced crowd of young media artists.
Furthermore, this provides flexibility: since you can access open source for free,
you don't have to bind yourself to your software investions.
Thus, it is an easy step to evaluate different approaches for development.
On the other hand, open-source is available on more platforms than proprietary software,
since everybody can hack a port to her favorite system, thus complying more easily to your
predefined constants.

Works that are developed in an academic context, like the OSK, are also oftenly intended
to be presented as a publication that documents more than just the result - but also the
path that was taken during the design process.
Obviously, presenting code as open source is an almost obligatory requirement for this
way of highlighting processes besides the result itself.
The open source community provides proven systems for licensing and sharing the author's work.

LIST OF SOFTWARE/HARDWARE USED
- Linux-PC
- Multichannel-Soundcard, ADAT, RME HDSP 9652
- ADAT-D/A-Converters, Marian ADCON/FOSTEX
- Multichannel-Amplifiers (12-16 Channels)
- DIY circuit boards for impedance measurement
- portable loudspeaker sculptures with plain copper connectors
- copper paths installation on the floor
  - made out of generic geometric "primitives"
  - self-adhesive back
- tons of cables, adaptors etc.

INITIATOR(S) OF THE PROJECT/ARTWORK
Tobias Beck, Christoph Haag, Martin Rumori, Micha Thies, Franziska
Windisch, Ludwig Zeller (OSFA seminar series, KHM Cologne)

ORGANISATION (if any)
Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM)

RELEVANT WEBSITE(S)/ONLINE DOCUMENTATION
http://osk.openkhm.de

TEAM (necessary people for the project or artwork presentation)
(include name - function - nationality - country of residence)
Christoph Haag, Martin Rumori, Franziska Windisch, Ludwig Zeller