Mario’s Furniture (2006-2007)

Mario’s Furniture is an interactive video installation integrating computer vision and wireless technology with artistic production and performance. Viewers become players, seeing themselves in the virtual space of the game while they play the game in thephysical world. Contrary to almost all video games the body is actualized in real and virtual space simultaneously. Players can’t merely manipulate an avatar with a simple joystick. Playing Mario’s Furniture involves strenuous physicality, parodying conventional video games in which avatars are put in peril while players sit on a couch. Players must physically move the couch to play the game. Mario’s emphasizes how camera and screen can affect the construction of social relationships. Players see themselves (and not a stand in) under the camera’s scrutiny, humorously mirroring the absurdity of living within the frame. Mario’s Furniture is a collaborative project created by Hillary Mushkin, S.E. Barnet, and myself. Initially designed as a fixed media work, Mario’s Furniture has developed into an interactive video installation that utilizes motion tracking, video analysis, custom wireless sensors and software to create a physical gaming experience. I am currently developing the code for the installation using Max/MSP, Jitter, and Cyclops in addition to developing custom “couch” sensors with Lorin Parker.

A nice article about Mario’s Fruniture that has been published in the Leonardo Journal.
You can read the article here.

Mario’s Furniture was exhibited at the Telic gallery in downtown Los Angeles from October 28th through December 2nd, 2007.

Mario’s Furniture premiered in October of 2006 at the Telic Gallery in Los Angeles.

Residencies
July and August, 2005 @ the Bolsky Gallery, Otis College, Los Angeles
September 16th Ð October 1st @ The Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena
August 2006 @ Otis College, Los Angeles

Demonstrations and Performances
September 1st, 2005 @ Bolsky Gallery, Otis College, Los Angeles
Mario’s Furniture will premiere October, 2006 @ Telic Gallery, Los Angeles

A demonstration video of Marios Furniture game play