Robody

2023 | cooperate project | dancer, programmer @ Centre des Arts Enghien-les-Bains

HIGHLIGHT: Official program at CDA 2023/2024 season launch event. [link]
Press: EUR ArTec [link1] [link2]

This Robotic Dance Performance was produced as a final presentation of the 3-year research-creation project “Co-Évolution, Co-Création et Improvisation Homme-Machine (CECCI-H2M)” of the EUR d’ArTeC, led by Pr. Chu-Yin Chen, Image Numérique et Réalité Virtuelle (INREV) research team of the labo. AIAC of Université Paris 8, in collaboration with CDA d’Enghien-les-Bains and LIRMM Interactive Digital Human (IDH) team.

In the unfolding narrative, the protagonist assumes the role of an isolated inhabitant confined within the confines of her apartment, grappling with a cacophony of emotions ranging from fear, hate, and joy to bouts of inexplicable ecstasy and despondency, triggered by the looming threat of external organic entities. Amidst her emotional turmoil, a temporal solace emerges in the form of the humanoid robot, mirroring her physical dimensions and serving as a source of companionship. A delicate interplay unfolds as she shares intimate moments with the robot, teaching it different movements and engaging in heartfelt conversations during the prolonged period of social seclusion. The interaction, at times, reveals the robot’s mechanical and detached responses, while occasionally exuding an autonomous warmth, punctuated by unexpected surprises. Despite the initial challenges in communication, the robot gradually comprehends her inten- tions, drawing from its memory bank intertwined with her own experiences. This convergence of memories forms a poignant link, fostering a semblance of comfort, and catalyzing the evolution of her vulnerabilities in this temporal voyage. Moreover, the lurking presence of the external organic entities evolves through time, and the fear and joy turn to trigger her to construct a new relationship with the robot also with artificial life.

Project leader | Pr. Chu-Yin Chen (Professor, lab. INREV-AIAC, Paris 8)
Research director | Pr. Abderrahamane Kheddar (Professor/Research Director, LIRMM IDH team, CNRS)
Director of the Enghien-les-Bains Art Center (CDA) | Dominique Roland
Dancer and programmer for HRP-4 robot | *Hui-Ting Hong (Ph.D. candidate, lab. INREV-AIAC, Paris 8)
Computer graphics and sound | Isadora Teles de Castro (Ph.D., lab. INREV-AIAC, Paris 8)
Engineer for HRP-4 robot | Arnaud Tanguy (research engineer, LIRMM IDH team, CNRS)
Lighting design | Carine Gérard
CDA team, coordination with EUR ArTeC | Victoria Chavez and Driss Nicolle
accompanied by the Casa 9 association and the CDA technical team.

Project CECCI-H2M, supported by EUR ArTeC

Journée d’études: co-création robot-humain sur scène [link]

Partners :
Labo. INREV-AIAC, Paris 8
CDA - Centre des Arts d’Enguien-les-Bains
LIRMM - Laboratoire d’informatique, de robotique et de microélectronique de Montpelliers