Workshop: Digital Matters – Closing the Gap between Digital & Physical World
On last Saturday (12 October 2019), we are delighted to have Malaysia born media artist, Lim Kok Yoong, to guide our finalists as well as the public, on how to adapt digitalisation and the current information age into our physical artworks.
He briefed us through the emergence of digital fabrication throughout the era and the wider range of possibilities offered by digital media. Kok Yoong also noted that current media artists no longer work within a silo, but now a teamwork effort with programmers and even scientists to design their artworks.
While the industry currently thrives in the digital domain, as far as artists concern, we still need to present our work in physical form. Hence, the importance of bridging digital media with the physical realm.
Starting with the different fabrication techniques from centuries and even millenniums ago, Kok Yoong explained thoroughly on each of the techniques which include formative, subtractive and the relatively new – additive manufacturing, namely the 3D printer which is somewhat similar to the conventional sculpting method.
He also advised on the different materials to consider when designing artworks, depending on the complexity, size, volume, speed, operators, aesthetic and of course, price. We should also be more environmentally-conscious in choosing the right materials.
Besides showing us the different ways of additive fabrication being used by artists all over the world, Kok Yoong also showcased his latest installation at the King Sejong and Music, Chiwhapyeong Exhibition in South Korea. His 3D-printed and laser-cut creations were conceived from the sound sample of the influential King Sejong’s music composition, Yongbieocheonga.
Kok Yoong further encouraged fellow artists to utilise various digital media to design their artworks as the digital realm has allowed an endless creativity flow as long as you let your imagination soar.
Lastly, he also demonstrated a digital sculpture that can be created by simply speaking into a microphone connected to a digital rendering media. Basically, you can create your own 3D sculpture with your own voice or even pulse!
Kok Yoong is a media artist who works with digital media and digital technology, who serves as a senior lecturer in the Media Arts Department of the Faculty of Creative Multimedia at Multimedia University, Malaysia. He is also the owner of FabU Cafe at Sunway, where we held this workshop.