| | SeoNang is an international telematic project between Seattle (USA) and Seoul (Korea). Four media artsits (Eunsu Kang, Wesley Smith, Rama Hoetzlien and Grahan Wakefield) worked collaboratively to create SeoNang as a shared interactive environment linking two physical spaces in real-time. This work is commissioned by the Korean Cultrue and Art Foundation and sponsored by DXARTS, Zenitum Entertainment Conputing Inc. and ArtSpaceHue.
SeoNang represents a third space in the 'in-between' dimension and induces participants to communicate in their telepresence visualized in the third space, namely SeoNang. Participants in Seoul and Seattle interact through interfaces consisting of video projection, IR light detection system and customized software controlling networking and 3D rendering. We expect participants in two distinct locations and cultures to enjoy their communication using their body and visualization as an alternative to verbal language.
The project title, SeoNang is an appropriation of the name of a guardian deity tree (and also the area around the tree) in Korea. This tree traditionally served as a border sign between two towns as well as a temporal shelter for the sick or women expelled from their society. In this context, we regard SeoNang as a "virtual membrane", acting as a third zone where participants can momentarily dissolve through to its "lipid" interior.
Participants collaborate to create forms out of the membrane. Each space sees the membrane from the opposite direction, turning the screen into a window into a virtual space that sits between Seattle and Seoul. Audio generated from the silhouette forms provides local feedback and a greater sense of direct interaction with the membrane.
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