don't think I've sent info about this project before to ambit... shunga screensavers...
I was just putting together info about it for a proposal and thought I'd send it the list in case anyone wants to spice up their computer. Apologies to Mac users, it's PC only at the moment. Http://www.bhood.co.uk/shunga Here's the info too: *********** �shunga� is series of twelve screensavers based on Japanese erotic prints from the C17th - C19th. Typically a scroll consisting of twelve scenes, (one for each month of the year), Shunga explicitly portrayed varying sexual positions. Used as pornography and as sex manuals, the latter was normally passed down through the female generations of a family, upon marriage. In this work I used typical 3D computer generated characters, from the software �Poser�, to re-present and animate the scenes of an original Shunga scroll. I am interested in 3D character animation as an up-to-the-minute tool but also its limited ability to truly represent physicality. The work emphasises the artificiality of these characters with their simply animated, awkward movements. Further enhancing this, the original scrolls are reduced to only the figures, removing any objects or furniture, which may have been necessary for a pose. Thus, at times the figures perform with totally unreal physical prowess, defying gravity. These characters become performers of the most explicit, yet synthetic nature, endlessly repeating their fruitless activity. �shunga� explores the relationship between sexually explicit material and varying cultural and historical attitudes. Bringing this inquiry into the contemporary sphere, the work provokes questions about the role of pornography and sexual content on the home computer, the work itself potentially inhabiting this environment. There is also the possibility of the work taking on an educational role once again because of this ability to function in an intimate, domestic space. Importantly it presents heterosexually explicit material from the perspective of a woman, where she is typically depicted in the role of �subject�. �shunga� re-interprets pre-existing material from another perspective, through a different historical cultural consciousness. The work examines the potential of cultural shifts, a re-vision of perspective, and specific historical and cultural material thrown together with contemporary references and media. ********** ------------------------------------------------- a m b i t : networking media arts in scotland post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] info: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "info ambit" in the message body -------------------------------------------------
