Digital Art: Stelarc: Ping Body

The idea of interaction of two bodies was presented by Stelarc during performance called “Ping body”. The author was Luxemburg and the people who were stimulating his body by means of special interfaces were situated in three different places: Paris, Helsinki, Amsterdam. The whole performance could be watch on the screens thanks to using the Internet. The artist’s body was divided into two parts, one was controlled by Stelarc, the second was stimulated by electric impulses transferred by means of ISDN connections. The programmers could observe how the body reacted for their commends and the artist could see face of the person who was manipulating his body. The body stimulated by electric impulses was performing some sequences of moves which could be planned very precisely. At the same time the human body was creating impulses what caused feedback. It proved that a body not only could be activated by external devices but also could send own signals and modified stimulation. The body works not only controlled by own metabolism and internal rhythm but also in the net of connected bodies, devices. This performance was not focused on highlighting the ability of sending not complicated information but it was concentrated on the active exchange of physiological and physical energy.
The intention of Stelarc was showing new situation, in which people are now-a-days. We are users of new technologies which can directly influence our bodies and stimulate them. The technology becomes our environment but also can be treated as kind of equipment, the technology defines or lives and is part of human nature.