ANDY BEST & MERJA PUUSTINENE: CONVERSTATIONS WITH ANGELS






CONVERSATIONS WITH ANGELS is a multimedia art work on the Internet created by MEETFACTORY (Andy Best & Merja Puustinen) employing 3D computer graphics (VRML97). It combines visual environments, animation, video, sound effects and text. The multiuser capability accessible via the Internet creates a whole new status of existence - an art work as a social process, allowing the construction of an online community within the artwork. In the worlds of our web project the viewer can meet other visitors by using an "avatar", a 3D representation of her/himself in the virtual space. "Conversations with Angels" is a platform for communication. The multimedia art project is carried out as a social process and provocateur. Besides being entertaining, it also encourages the viewer to explore, investigate, test and question preconceptions about the nature of the Internet and virtual spaces. The visitor to the world is first taken on an animation which sets the tone for the narrative. The user navigates themself into an aeroplane, from which they emerge into a psycadelic courtyard. The yard acts as a "hub" for a series of individual spaces inhabited by "bot" characters such as Carl the serial killer and his bored wife Marg, Anne a lesbian princess who grows plants, and Bob the red neck goldfish. Dare you find the others?!

Credits:
Conception, design, VRML: Andy Best & Merja Puustinen, MEETFACTORY ; Sound design: Sami Kuusela & Mikko Saukko, KLAK ; Consultant producer: Outi Rousu, Kroma Productions.
Produced in co-operation with: The Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff, Alberta, Canada, KIASMA, The Museum of Contemporary Art Finland.
For Banff: Executive Producer, Television and New Media, Sara Diamond ; Associate Director, Production, Jed De Cory ; Associate Producer, Television and New Media, Joy Barrett ; Production Manager, Norm Richards ; Computer Facilitor, Rhonda Jessen ; Computer Workstudies, Don Smith, Scott Wilson, Craig McPherson
For KIASMA: Executive Producer, interdent Perttu Rastas.
Funding by: AVEK, Finnish Cultural Fund.


MEETFACTORY:

Merja Puustinen and Andy Best are MEETFACTORY. Merja was born in Eastern Finland in 1963. She studied Fine Art, and Philosophy and Aesthetics. Merja's works in video, photography, and installation have been exhibited widely in Finland and Europe. Andy was born in England in 1963. He studied Fine Art, and has exhibited both in Europe and the USA with sculpture and installation works. They have collaborated since 1993 when they produced their first telecommunications based projects. Since then they have made telematic performances, internet projects, and environmental and gallery installations. They have exhibited in numerous international exhibitions and festivals such as Ars Electronica 97, Avatars 97 (Best Avatar Character award), Virtual Environments 98 (Demo competition 2nd prize), and the forthcoming ISEA 98.

best@meetfactory.com
http://meetfactory.com/angels