An Analysis of the Interactive Engagement of the Audience with Interactive Computer Art from David Rokeby’s Perspective

David Rokeby is a prominent Canadian artist recognized for his exploration in interactive and computer-based artistic works. Interaction, or interactivity, is an act occurring between two or more entities, phenomena, or processes that mutually affect each other. When two or more things engage in action and reaction, they are said to interact with each other. Interaction in objects can alter their state or influence the manner in which changes occur in objects. Additionally, in phenomena, interaction leads to the emergence of additional parameters that need to be considered in calculations. Interaction refers to the process of communication among individuals, objects, or systems. It is a fundamental aspect of human life and plays a significant role in various fields, including social, technological, and biological aspects. Cultural interaction involves the exchange of beliefs, customs, and traditions between different cultures. Intercultural interaction can lead to cultural dissemination, where elements of one culture spread to another through trade, migration, or communication. Generally, interaction is a multifaceted concept that encompasses a wide range of activities and disciplines. It plays a vital role in human society, technology, science, and the natural world, shaping our ways of communication, learning, and coexistence. Understanding and effectively managing interactions are essential for achieving successful outcomes in various aspects of life and knowledge. Interactive art, also known as art of interaction, is a form of art that engages the spectator in an artistic action to achieve its purpose. Some interactive artistic arrangements allow viewers to intervene in, on, or around them by giving them permission to do so. Others require artists or spectators to become a part of the artistic work in some way. Computer art, or computer-based art, refers to any type of artistic work where computers play a role in its production or display. This artistic work can be an image, sound, animation, or video, a video game, a website, or an algorithm. Many traditional art fields are now integrating with computer technologies. Museums and art venues worldwide, since their inception, have increasingly incorporated digital and interactive art into their productions. This innovative art form continues its rapid growth and evolution through online subcultures and large-scale urban installations. Furthermore, active media audiences do not merely passively receive information; rather, they actively, often unconsciously, participate in understanding the message in their personal and social domains. Interactive computer art enhances the concept of a holistic mental worldview. This is achieved through the artist's technical knowledge of computer programming. Computer software allows the artist to access deeper levels of computer programming and requires them to base specific tasks, such as image manipulation, on a fluid mental model of the holistic and accessible aspects of the entire output of the work. Interactive artists engage in changing the relationship between artists and their media and between artistic works and their audiences. These changes significantly increase the role of the audience in the artistic work and diminish the authority of the author or creator of the work. Interactive artists create relationships rather than finished works of art. The ability to represent relationships in a practical way significantly adds to the expressive palette available to artists. This power is further magnified by the fact that the actors themselves become the reference of the work. The works are somewhat similar to portraits, reflecting the mutual aspects of the actors and transformed to express the artist's intention.
In this research, the key aspects of interactive audience engagement with computer-generated art are examined and analyzed from the perspective of David Rokeby. Interactive engagement goes beyond the traditional inclinations of audience interaction, extending into the realm of mutual experiential discourse. The conventional view of artistic interaction and audience perception suggests that the artist leaves their mark on a specific object or message (artwork), and others, including recipients, the general public, and critics, perceive, see, read, interpret, and evaluate it. However, the emerging technological and cultural environment in the new era challenges the distinction between dissemination and reception, creation and interpretation, giving rise to new forms of art. These new forms allow individuals, who are no longer passive recipients in the traditional sense, to experience alternative methods, such as interaction, communication, and co-creation. This shifts the audience from a state of passivity to active participation, transforming their role. Rokeby's perspective on interactive engagement with computer art emphasizes the role of the participant as an active collaborator in the process of creation and meaning-making. He believes that interaction is a vital element in engaging the audience and challenging traditional concepts of passive spectatorship. This aligns closely with the description of the conditions of computer art, where interaction adds elements such as creation, performance, and extended evaluation. David Rokeby has made a significant contribution to the field of interactive computer art, and his viewpoint has been shaped through his artistic exploration and experimentation. Rokeby considers interactive computer art a means to explore the complex interaction between humans, technology, and the environment. This research aims to provide a coherent and patterned analysis of Rokeby's thinking, utilizing it in the conceptualization and execution of contemporary computer arts with an emphasis on interactive engagement with the audience.
The research question is formulated as follows: "What are the key components of interactive audience engagement with computer arts from the perspective of David Rokeby?"
This theoretical research employs a descriptive-analytical method with a qualitative approach, utilizing library and electronic document resources. The examined samples include several interactive works by David Rokeby.
The findings of the research indicate that David Rokeby's perspective on interactive audience engagement with computer art emphasizes active interaction, embodied interaction, dialogues, collaborative creation, reflection, awareness, technological mediation, sensory engagement, feedback, responsiveness, social and ethical consequences, and fluid boundaries. He also views interactive computer art based on active participation, sensory engagement, feedback, reflection, social consequences, and the dissolution of traditional boundaries. Rokeby's works are primarily presented as installations, and this mode of execution provides a desirable and encompassing spatialization, allowing the audience to engage in a participatory and discourse-oriented manner with the creator on the interactive media platform. This facilitation, including active physical and multisensory actions, leads to cognitive reflections and conscious and unconscious perceptual structures in the audience and ultimately results in the extraction of new concepts. Rokeby considers interactive audience engagement a means to actively involve with computer art. By providing opportunities for interaction with artworks, he encourages participants to become active collaborators rather than passive observers. This interaction allows participants to have a more comprehensive and transformative experience and create a deeper connection with the artistic work. He also emphasizes the importance of active participation in interactive computer art, believing that the audience should not be merely passive spectators but active participants who engage with the artwork through their actions and reactions. Through active engagement, participants become co-creators and shape the outcome and meaning of the artwork. Continuing with the analysis of David Rokeby's perspective on interactive audience engagement with computer art, it is crucial to delve into specific elements that he highlights as integral to this form of interaction. Rokeby places a significant emphasis on the role of interaction in fostering a collaborative and participatory approach. He contends that interaction is not merely a one-way process where the artist imparts their vision onto the audience; instead, it becomes a dynamic interplay between the artist and the participant. This dynamic involvement of the audience in the creation and interpretation of the artwork challenges traditional notions of passive spectatorship. Furthermore, Rokeby underscores the importance of sensory engagement in interactive computer art. By incorporating elements that appeal to multiple senses, such as touch, sight, and sound, the artwork becomes a holistic and immersive experience. This multisensory engagement goes beyond the visual appreciation of traditional art forms, adding a layer of physical and visceral interaction. Feedback and responsiveness are additional key components highlighted by Rokeby. The interactive nature of computer-generated art allows for real-time responses to user input. This immediate feedback loop transforms the viewing experience into a dialogue between the audience and the artwork. The artwork, in turn, adapts and responds to the participant's actions, creating a unique and evolving encounter. Rokeby's perspective also extends to the social and ethical consequences of interactive engagement. As technology becomes an intermediary in the artistic experience, questions of ethics and societal impact come to the forefront. The blurring of boundaries between creator and audience, as well as the dissolution of traditional norms, prompts a reevaluation of the social implications of interactive computer art. The notion of fluid boundaries is a recurring theme in Rokeby's perspective. Traditional distinctions between the physical and virtual, the creator and the audience, and even between different art forms, become less rigid. This fluidity allows for a more expansive and inclusive artistic experience, where participants actively contribute to the creation of meaning. In conclusion, David Rokeby's viewpoint on interactive audience engagement with computer art transcends the traditional paradigm of artistic creation and spectatorship. Through his emphasis on active participation, sensory engagement, feedback, and the consideration of social and ethical consequences, Rokeby positions interactive computer art as a transformative and collaborative experience. By challenging conventional boundaries and fostering dynamic interactions, Rokeby's work contributes significantly to the evolving landscape of contemporary art, where the audience becomes an active participant, co-creating meaning and shaping the artistic discourse.