Contact me regarding your needs, desires or wishes in respect to new media installations requiring interaction and/or kinetic elements. I work in the capacity that fits best with you: collaboration, consultation or supply only of complete units, modules or components. I have worked for PhD and Masters Candidates and with exhibiting artists in varying capacities.

Qualifications
Master of Fine Art (Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney)
Bachelor of Visual Art (Hons) (Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney)
Diploma of Visual Art (Meadowbank TAFE)
Associate Diploma in Engineering (Electrical) (North Sydney TAFE)
Electrical Trades Certificate (North Sydney TAFE)
TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (HKCC, Hornsby)

Specialty
ARDUINO, RASPBERRY PI, coding in Python, C++ & Linux shell script; descrete componentelectric/electronic builds as well as sound/music and moving_image/photographic composition.
And an allround manipulator of readymades

I make it happen

Selected electronic builds for various artists

BRIEF: Provide a 6-channel audio player. SOLUTION: While surround sound is common when attached to video, multitrack audio is rare. Rapberry Pi running Trixie OS can send multichannel .wav audio out via the HDMi port. The digital audio was then converted using an HDMi to multichannel audio converter and then sent to multiple stereo power speakers via 3.5mm phono.

BRIEF: Artist wanted to create a video art diary of handmade paper. A different video was to be played on each time a page was turned – think Daily Prophet from Harry Potter. SOLUTION: A project was mounted on the ceiling and a laser-based proximity sensor was mounted ‘looking’ across the art diary. The laser sensed when an audience member turned a page and that signal caused a Raspberry Pi to play the next video.

BRIEF: Create musical sounds from a NASA derrived spreadsheet that archived solar flare data collected at the moment of the artist was born. SOLTION: Using Python on Linux the numbers in spreadsheet cells became frequencies to be played by a software-based synthesizer.  The artist took the raw sound file and used Ableton to produce the feel they were after.  It became part of a sound and video installation with images of the solar flares that the data was linked to.

BRIEF: Help reconstruct a Raspberry Pi based radio frequency audio visual installation.  SOLUTION: Several years prior, units had been configured by someone else but they were not available for this retrospective project.  I stepped in, decoded previous work and reconfigured the system for currently available hardware.  Raspberry Pi, 3.5inch touch screen, Adafruit FreqShow and RTL-SDR frequency scanner.  

BRIEF: Build a unit that produces a variable synthesized sound that rotates while being suspended from the ceiling. Sound to be initated by the proximity of various floor mounted sculptures. SOLUTION: Raspberry Pi with ultrasonic sensor and software-based sound generator.

BRIEF: Audience member picks up ceramic sculpture and walks towards main sculpture of installation to generate sounds based on direction and proximity.  SOLUTION: Arduino with ultrasonic sensor, electronic compass and custom audio output module.

BRIEF: With the myth of Sisyphus in mind build a pair of motorised chassis to fit into plaster of paris boots that move forward and auto reverse. SOLUTION: I kept the workings as analogue as possible by using Mechano, DC motors, latching relays and limit switches. One length of string for each boot was attached to the wall and pulled on a switch when the boot moved to the end of its tether which caused to the motor to reverse. Upon bumping into the wall the other limit switch was activated and the motor drove the boot forward. Click here for further information

With experience as an installation assistant at art festivals together with my career skills managing commercial electrical & data projects and computer room builds for large corporate and government I am well equiped to solve any artist’s build needs.

My Diploma major was in printmaking, my Bachelor major was in sculpture, my Masters research was in experimental electronic art with a focus on computer code as an artform and I have over 5 years experience as a picture framer

I have been able to provide custom solutions for many artists with their interactive audio, visual and kinetic needs including interfacing with web-based data, ceramics, urns, musical instruments and audience proximity.

Paul Cooper ABN 50 458 316 949