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This paper describes an interactive robotic art installation Dream Painter by the artistic duo Varvara & Mar that deploys artificial intelligence (AI), a KUKA industrial robot and interaction technology in order to offer the audience an artistic interpretation of their past dreams, which are then turned into a collective painting. The installation is composed of four larger parts: audience interaction design, AI-driven multicoloured drawing software, communication with an arm robot, and a kinetic part that is the automatic paper progression following each completed dream drawing. All these interconnected parts are orchestrated into an interactive and autonomous system in the form of an art installation that occupies two floors of a cultural centre. In the article, we document the technical and conceptual frameworks of the project, and the experience gained through the creation and exhibition of the interactive robotic art installation. In addition, the paper explores the creative potential of speech-to-AI-drawing transformation, which is a translation of different semiotic spaces performed by a robot as a method for audience interaction in the art exhibition context.
Since the early 2000s, cultural institutions have been instrumental in reshaping public spaces, fostering community engagement, and nurturing artistic innovation. Central to these initiatives are audience interaction and participation concepts, yet their definitions and applications in urban media art remain nebulous. This article endeavours to demystify these terms, examining the distinct characteristics and intersections of interactive and participatory art within urban contexts. A particular emphasis is placed on artworks that harmonise both elements, exploring the motivations and outcomes of this synthesis. The case study of We Are The Clouds serves as a focal point, exemplifying how strategic integration of interaction and participation can enhance community connection and reinvigorate public spaces. Through this analysis, the paper underscores the transformative power of urban media artworks in redefining neighbourhood experiences, empowering local voices, and revitalising the essence of public realms.
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