Phantom of Utopia

Ka Hei Cheng, Irina Kruchinina, and Matin Esmaeili

Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression

Abstract

Chinese Calligraphic Dance (CCD) is introduced in this paper as an innovative artistic discipline synthesizing traditional calligraphy, dance, and interactive technology. The elements utilized in the performance derive exclusively from traditional Chinese characters, grounded in the clerical script that originated during the Han Dynasty around 200 BCE. In the historical context of Chinese calligraphic strokes (elements of Chinese words), our interdisciplinary approach transcribes these strokes into gestures, translating them into generative music and visual media through motion tracking. The present interdisciplinary exploration, influenced by somaesthetic principles, aims to deepen our awareness of bodily perception as well as provide an immersive engagement with Chinese calligraphy culture.

Citation

Ka Hei Cheng, Irina Kruchinina, and Matin Esmaeili. 2024. Phantom of Utopia. Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.15028099

BibTeX Entry

@article{nime2024_music_40,
 abstract = {Chinese Calligraphic Dance (CCD) is introduced in this paper as an innovative artistic discipline synthesizing traditional calligraphy, dance, and interactive technology. The elements utilized in the performance derive exclusively from traditional Chinese characters, grounded in the clerical script that originated during the Han Dynasty around 200 BCE. In the historical context of Chinese calligraphic strokes (elements of Chinese words), our interdisciplinary approach transcribes these strokes into gestures, translating them into generative music and visual media through motion tracking. The present interdisciplinary exploration, influenced by somaesthetic principles, aims to deepen our awareness of bodily perception as well as provide an immersive engagement with Chinese calligraphy culture.},
 address = {Utrecht, Netherlands},
 articleno = {40},
 author = {Ka Hei  Cheng and Irina Kruchinina and Matin Esmaeili},
 booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression},
 doi = {10.5281/zenodo.15028099},
 editor = {Laurel Smith Pardue and Palle Dahlstedt},
 issn = {2220-4806},
 month = {September},
 numpages = {4},
 pages = {142--145},
 presentation-video = {https://youtu.be/NeAsumJOG2U},
 title = {Phantom of Utopia},
 track = {Music},
 url = {http://nime.org/proceedings/2024/nime2024_music_40.pdf},
 year = {2024}
}