Presence and Machine Learning

Can you see the human in these artworks?

Presence (2013) is human form in digital motion. Its humming lines, neon trails and fluid shapes that spin and twist across the black background were created from a motion-capture performance of dancers from Benjamin Millepied’s L.A. Dance Project. Universal Everything then manipulated the footage into abstract forms that hint at the human beneath. The performances evolve through a spectrum of materials, colours and behaviours, guided by a rhythmic pulse that responds to the soundtrack.

Five years later, in Machine Learning (2018), the human element is rendered in the dancer’s avatar and their mirrored co-player, whose form changes from smart materials to drone swarms. These animated films were a collaboration with choreographer and dancer Dwayne-Antony Simms, and were also made through motion-capture. The duet explores balance, mimicry and challenge as Simms teaches the robot to follow his steps. Although it was initially performed in an empty room, it depicts a surprisingly natural conversation between human and machine. From the abstract, humanity emerges, with the piece asking: Can a robot outperform a dancer? Would a robot dance for fun?

Creative Director: Matt Pyke

Senior Producer: Greg Povey

3D Animation: Joe Street

Sound Design: Simon Pyke

Dancer/Choreographer: Dwayne-Anthony Simms

Motion Capture: Audio Motion