posted Mar 4, 2011 7:38 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 7:54 PM
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I remember
the very first thought entering my mind back in 2008 when this Belgian
artist Angelo Vermeulen presented his project named Biomodd to the UP
Open University. The concepts behind it were right up my alley, but
making a statement of molding them together in the context of an art
project, even to the point of explicit defiance to conventional
wisdom... that was new to me. And perhaps this knack for going against
the grain was what attracted UPOU in the first place. If my institution
wanted in, I knew I’d be in the thick of it, eventually. And by the time
it became serious in early 2009, I definitely was.
The
creation of synergy between technology and biology will always be the
most obvious element of Biomodd. How can these computers, algae and
plants benefit from each other? Can animals actually be added to the
mix? This project is a symbolic statement that a wide array of
possibilities exists out there. But another aspect that deserves a lot
of credit is the community we built around Biomodd – over a hundred
people from different walks of life coming together to shape what was to
become the sculpture that was showcased in UP Los Baños and the Museum
of Contemporary Art and Design in De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
- Al Francis Librero Los Baños
2009 |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:27 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 7:56 PM
]
Biomodd is the most complicated project I've ever been involved in. At
first glance, it doesn't look like things are really connected but once
you get immersed in it, the pieces fall into place. - Trish Corpuz |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:26 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 8:01 PM
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Biomodd is a new way of introducing science to people and keep it interesting by fusing arts, culture and nature. - Alex Ezequiel
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posted Mar 4, 2011 7:26 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 7:57 PM
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Biomodd is a fusion of arts, culture and science.I think students,
especially those in the biological sciences and computer science, will
be interested. It's also a good way to promote something that's
innovative. It's also a bridge for science and art to come together. - Ayeen Karunungan |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:25 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 8:02 PM
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Biomodd is about linking different cultures directed towards a unified idea of connecting the environment with technology. - Jeryl Estopace |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:24 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 8:04 PM
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Biomodd is like a breath of fresh air. I appreciate art
in all forms - paintings, sculptures, photographs, architecture - but
I've never seen something like biomodd. I never thought that you could
intertwine technology, ecology and art in one piece and produce
something amazing.
- Maureen Magallanes |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:23 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 8:06 PM
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Biomodd is the project where collective creativity runs the show.
- Melanie Trani |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:21 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 8:08 PM
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Upon entering the UPOU Oblation Hall, I was amazed by a big octagonal
wooden structure with a big crawling plant clinging to a huge driftwood
at the center of the structure. Small plants are already creeping on
the side of the eight posts. On aquarium tanks, some species of fish
and algae are being cultured.
On one side of the hall, six
recycled computers are running on Ubuntu and are already prepared for
the multi-player online game being developed using open-source
software. These computers will eventually be integrated into the
structure.
Another
team is preparing digital sensors which would capture humidity, heat,
distance and images inside the structure which would eventually be
presented on the web using the Processing programming language.
Wood
carvings from Paete, Laguna would eventually be integrated into the
structure to serve as a showcase of the artwork of the Philippines.
What
am I doing in Los Banos where the structure is currently housed? What
is the significance of the structure I am trying to describe?
I
am part of a group of students enrolled in the Special Projects course
as part of the curriculum of the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies
of the University of the Philippines Open University under our
Faculty-In-Charge Diego Maranan.
We are required to be a part of the Biomodd project. To fully grasp the
significance of the project, we have to “feel”, ‘touch” and “be united”
with the concepts, as well as the actual structure.
The Biomodd project intends to showcase the symbiosis between the different elements of nature, technology and art.
- Roy San Buenaventura |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:20 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 8:06 PM
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I like the concept of Biomodd, technology and nature as one. To me it's
not just a science project, it's like Steve Jobs when he invented his
first computer. This leads to something far greater than what we can
expect, technology and nature as one, really sounds cool. Biomodd might
save Nature in this dying world where most people rely on Machines that
are slowly killing nature. I'd really like to be part of this because of
the contribution that it can give to Nature, Technology and Mankind. - Nico Cadorna |
posted Mar 4, 2011 7:19 PM by Diego S. Maranan
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updated Mar 4, 2011 8:05 PM
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Biomodd is the platform for the kewlest game ever!!
- Julius Cebreros (lead game engineer)
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