Will the 'real' Paul Hoc please stand up...

"Paul Hoc is not a robot."

This is in fact a quote from Paul Hoc's very own web page at Object Graphik.
Paul Hoc is not a robot. I humbly beg to differ. Not because it sounds like it should be printed on a T-shirt or the rally-cry of the obsessed fans of the 'real' Paul Hoc, an American painter of the 1950's but because Paul Hoc is, most definitely, a robot.

Why do I make such a claim, when even his designers/creators say differently?

To quote pioneering roboticist Joseph Engelberger "I can't define a robot, but I know one when I see one." (which incidentally is why there is no definition of Robot supplied on BotShots).

Created and designed by POB Technology and the artists at Object Graphik, of France, for the 2008 Saint Etienne International design biennial, Paul Hoc physically traverses paper and canvas to create intricate, geometiric, illustrations born of digital code and mathematical algorithms.



(Posted with Artist(s) Permission)

www.objectgraphik.com

Reuben Margolin: Art, Math and Motion

While Californian artist Reuben Margolin does not exactly make 'robots', he is (forgive me) making waves that have implications and applications in both art and robotics.

His creative impulses include drawing, painting, furniture and even rolling-vehicle making, yet it is his mastery of kinetic sculpture, natural materials and motions, analogue controls (in a digital world) and theatrically dramatic presentations, often hypnotically captivating, that required his inclusion in this gallery.

'Magic Wave'

This is one of the biggest and most complex examples of kinetic art in the world. The 'Magic Wave' is an aluminum grid suspended by 256 cables and the overhead mechanics contain 3000 pulleys, 5 kilometers of steel cable, and 9 motors. In all more than 50000 parts. It was a collaboration with the staff at Technorama Swiss Science Center and displays wave characteristics of Wavelength, Amplitude and Frequency.

Video of 'Magic Wave' from the opening show at Technorama


'Round Wave'


Detail 'Round Wave'


Video of 'Round Wave'
Video by: Michele Orlando


'Spiral Wave' by Reuben Margolin
Video by Michele Orlando

(Posted with Artist Permission)

The following video for MAKE: TV is a fascinating profile of Reuben, his work and his process. I found it not only compelling but, more importantly, inspiring - as an artist and as a lover of art. It is included here in the hopes it has the same effect on others.

A Robotic Recital from Toyota

This robotic humanoid from Toyota can, arguably, play the violin. Now I want to see ten more of these paired with a few of the percussive pianos from LEMUR's 'gig' at the National Gallery of Art. Things are really starting to get interesting now...

Guillaume Reymond Transforms Spaces

Guillaume Reymond, the French-Swiss award-winning artist, has stepped out of the traditional box for his art project series Transformers. Outside and up, in fact. Way, way, up. Requiring the use of a Zeppelin to fully realize, a collection of vehicles (from Garbage and Fire trucks to Buses and Ambulances) are carefully positioned, revealing massive, transformer-like, robots in parking lots and fields. So far there are three in the Transformers series. One and Two are featured below.

Transformers#3 is only available at the artist's website. (By the artists request, so as to leave you something to discover on your own.)

'Transformers #1'




'Transformers #2', or 'RetroBus'



by Guillaume Reymond

(Posted with Artist Permission)

www.notsonoisy.com

Max Dean and Raffaello D'Andrea's Robot Chair

"The Robotic Chair" (Max Dean, Raffaello D'Andrea, Matt Donovan) in the short film Robotic Chair by Peter Lynch. The chair contains 14 motors, two gearboxes and various electronics. Sensors and algorithms aid the robot in re-uniting its missing parts.

Ballet Mecanique at the National Gallery of Art

Premiere of all-robotic version of George Antheil's infamous Dada piece for 16 player pianos and percussion orchestra. A rare, historically significant, recording from the NGA. Features new robotic instruments from LEMUR: League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots



Speaking of LEMUR - This is GuitarBot. It has to be seen and heard to be believed and appreciated. The following video is "Emercency Bot TV Theme" for GuitarBot, composed by Joshua Fried.