Bugs 2 : Infestation (2012)

or : Please Do Not Feed The Bugs

“We have received disturbing reports of an outbreak of beetles, spiders and centipedes… Digital artists Squidsoup have been on-site trying to contain the infestation but they may need your help…”

The project builds on a series of related research and projects that place responsive and vaguely aware digital creatures in physical space, exploring the boundaries and relationships between digital and physical environments. Related projects include Glowing Pathfinder Bugs (2008, updated 2011), Pest Control (2010) and Living Timelines (2012). Pest Control II : Infestation uses ceiling mounted Kinect sensors (Microsoft X-Box game controllers) to detect movement and interactions in 3D within the gallery space. Creatures respond to physical presence in different ways – some insects are wary of people, others far more inquisitive…

 

Infestation: an interactive installation primarily aimed at children – commissioned by, and first shown in 2012 at, DMU Cube, Phoenix Square, Leicester (UK).

The work has subsequently been shown at:
Ajyal Film Festival (Qatar, 2013,2014)
TIFF/DigiPlaySpace (Toronto Canada 2013)
Les Interfaces (La-Roche-Sur-Yon France 2015)
TIFF/DigiPlaySpace (Shijiazhuang, Hebei and Beijing China 2015-16)

A Squidsoup project, created by Anthony Rowe, Gareth Bushell, Liam Birtles and Chris Bennewith.