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June 13, 2013

Participation is Technology’s Gift to Art

For many years I struggled to bring participation into my work. Then I learned how to use technology.

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I think for many years I tried to bring participation into my work. I wanted my works come to life. I really wanted my artwork to breathe and live. And I tried several things including painting on the bodies of dancers. I painted the leotards of flamenco dancers and I had them dance in front of my work.

All of this was really exciting but, I feel like these were projects that did not completely invite participation. The participation was just between two artists or two people. I really wanted the spectator not to be outside the art-making process.

So I spent a lot of time trying to create art that was participatory. Finally I learned how I could use technology to invite this kind of participation. All my previous attempts were just a stepping stone to something that’s more exciting.

In Their Own Words is recorded in Big Think’s studio.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

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