Skypetrait: Transcontinental Faces
Aiming to understand more fully the nature of a ’portrait’ of identity defined by an urbanized and digitalized world.
Eichinger, H., and McCormick, M., (Eds), Skypetrait: Transcontinental Faces, Stat Reutlingen: Germany 2013 ISBN: 978-3-939775-33-1.
Skypetrait: Transcontinental Faces and Places 2012-2016 is in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Australia and China, RMIT University Art in Public Space, Reutlingen University, Stuttgart Region, Germany, and East China Normal University in Shanghai. This practice-led research through a series of SkypeLabs aim is to understand more fully the nature of a ’portrait’ of identity defined by an urbanized and digitalized world, through re-evaluation of the role of drawing within social media. It does this through an extension of Blind Contour Drawing and Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain techniques into the public space of Skype. The Skype screen interface reinforces the idea that when we draw we mirror ourselves as much as the other. In this case opposites are drawn together that form the whole or Die Gestalt. In this context ’portraiture’ becomes less of an interpretation of the individual as a mapping of the collective consciousness of our times. In so doing the project encompasses two parallel research foci – investigation into the impact of digital tools and social networks on fine art and design (Eichinger), and investigation into the impact of digitalization and urbanization on cultural perception (McCormick).