In the Thresholds Breached system, electronic-sculptural units establish a cybernetic loop through mutual perception, responsiveness, and altruist circulation of energy.
Inspired by the experiments in BEAM robotics and early analogue neural networks, each unit consists of several layers of electronic biomimetic neurons, light sensors, solar cells and motors, through which it senses the environment where it is located together with other units. Powered by solar energy and responding through light pulses and movements, the units adapt their behaviour to access sufficient energy supply – light –, operating in conjunction with each other – through signals and rhythm of transmission.
An energetic loop develops during the exhibition, which allows a constant circulation of resources to maintain the balance that each of them ultimately depends upon. Visitors encounter a work that explores model of energy exchanges in enclosed ecosystems. Such a network might at time seem unproductive, alien and even egocentric, as it adapts only to maintain its own requirements and operation. By simply observing the work, however, visitors introduce new signals and energy and disrupt the previously settled state of equilibrium, which has then to be established anew.
✹ Main exhibition @ Esoteric Ecotechnics. Irrational Computation and Conspiratorial Networking
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Staš Vrenko is an artist, musician and designer of electronic instruments from Slovenia. He holds a master’s degree from the Department of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana. For his master’s thesis, he received the UL ALUO Prešeren Award for Students. His artistic practice traverses different fields of art, with an emphasis on research into sound, electronic media and technologies, kineticism, advanced fabrication technologies and performativity.
