IAAA     

 Arthur & the Solenoids

Arthur & the Solenoids is an automatic guitar band with a strong theatrical component. In their live performances, the instrumental music by The Solenoids accompanies Algorithmic Facial Choreography: mathematically defined motion sequences which are executed by the muscles of a computer-controlled human face. The technology which accomplishes this was developed by the R&D branch of the Department of ArtiFacial Expression.
Personnel: Arthur Elsenaar (Face-Interface Technology, Display Device), Josephine Jasperse (Photography, Video Recording), Van Lagestein (Design), Remko Scha (MIDI Software), The Solenoids (Music), Yens & Yens (Guitar-Interface Technology).

Performances
Robot Rights Rally. Waagplein, Groningen, September 19, 1996. With Joop van Brakel as The Face; vocals by Huge Harry; algorithmic music by The Solenoids (electric guitars and bass guitars) and 2 Trimpin-Vorsetzers (pianos).
Ars Electronica Festival, Opening Event. Rathausplatz, Linz, Austria. September 8, 1997.
  STRUT. On-line Performance Series, Street Level Gallery, King Street, Glasgow. November 15, 1997.
Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis. Conference "Come to Your Senses." Felix Meritis,  Amsterdam, May 29, 1998. Lecture by Huge Harry with algorithmic piano music by Trimpin-Vorsetzer.
 
@V Festival, Marienburgh, Arnhem. November 21, 1998.
  Festival do FIM, Lux Fragil, Lisbon, Portugal. (Organised by Akademya Lusoh-Galaktika.) July 7, 1999.
X-Pact, Expocenter, Hengelo. October 29, 1999. Opening of "Art in Business. Contemporary Art Twente 1999". (October 29 - November 2). Recorded by SBS6. (Broadcast on Dutch National Television, November 1, 1999.) Also recorded by Luuk Bouwman for his documentary film "Huge Harry and the Institute of Artificial Art".
  Technological University Eindhoven. November 14, 2000.
  Circus Pavlov, "Body Language". NOB Studios, Hilversum (VARA). Performance by Arthur and the Solenoids. Hans Kesting interviews Arthur Elsenaar and Remko Scha. April 3, 2001. Also including obscene cabaret sketches, pointless discussions, and historical footage of Leonard Bernstein conducting Gustav Mahler. [Fragments of this evening were broadcast on June 23, 2001 by VARA (Dutch National Television).]
  Salon. Extra-Faculty, Royal Conservatory, The Hague, the Netherlands. Lecture by Arthur Elsenaar. Performance by Arthur & the Solenoids. October 30, 2001.

Television Broadcasts
November 1, 1999. SBS6 (Dutch National Television). Arthur & the Solenoids. X-Pact, Expocenter, Hengelo. Opening of "Art in Business. Contemporary Art Twente 1999". (October 29 - November 2).
June 23, 2001. Circus Pavlov, VARA (Dutch National Television): "Body Language". Performance by Arthur and the Solenoids. Hans Kesting interviews Arthur Elsenaar and Remko Scha. Also including obscene cabaret sketches, pointless discussions, and historical footage of Leonard Bernstein conducting Gustav Mahler. [Selections from a live program recorded on April 3 in the NOB Studios, Hilversum.]

Reviews
  Anon.: "Computers want equal rights." Automatisering Gids, September 27, 1996.
 
Anon.: "Aus Computerkunst wird Cyberkunst." Salzburger Volkszeitung, September 10, 1997.
 
Anon.: "Festival für Kunst aus dem Computer." Dithmarscher Landeszeitung, September 10, 1997.
 

Anon.: "Festival der Computerkunst." Nürnberger Zeitung, September 10, 1997.

 
Anon.: "Die Ars Electronica." Neue Zeit, Graz, September 10, 1997.
 
Silvia Kitzmantel and Irene Judmayer: "Eröffnung: 5000 Teilnehmer an einem 'Fest für Linz' des Festivals Ars Electronica. Zum Inselhüpfen ins Elektronikmeer." OÖNachrichten, Linz, September 10, 1997.
 
Thomas Kramar: "Entkabelung hinter Milchglass." Die Press, Vienna, September 10, 1997.
 
Doris Krumpl: "Elektronischer Ausdruckstanz. Die Eröffnung des 18. Kunst- und Technologie-Festivals 'Ars Electronica' in Linz." Der Standard, Vienna, September 10, 1997.
 

Udo Lemke: "Mensch als Fleisch-Faktor und Informationsmaschine. Eindrücke vom 18. Computerkunst-Festival Ars Electronica in Linz." Sächsische Zeitung, Dresden, September 16, 1997.

 

Fernando Magelhães: "Para sair, prima 'exit'. Festival do Fim celebra no Lux-Frágil fusão do homem com a máquina." Público. Edição Lisboa. July 7, 1999.

  Niels Wiedenhof: "Immanuel Kant in de praktijk. Huge Harry en de volledig autonome machinekunst." De Ingenieur, 110, 8 (May 6, 1998), pp. 6-11.

 

IAAA