Talking To: Sally Coulden
Cutting edge technology and fine art are not two things you would often associate, however abstract artist Sally Coulden’s latest project brings the two worlds together in style. By combining augmented reality and art, Coulden has created a unique performative experience which transforms the space you are in into Sally’s studio, complete with easel and rug being used as the markers for the AR. This experience is giving someone the opportunity not only to feel as if they are in the room as the artist paints a piece, but to go beyond that and start understanding the creative process.
Our original interview had meant to happen very differently; as was the rest of 2020. However, as social distancing dictates, I sat down to chat to Sally Coulden over Zoom. “It just started off as a seedling of an idea” she tells me, tangibly excited. “I just had this curiosity...and then I thought, well, actually, I’m going to do that.”
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I’m an abstract painter who paints abstract landscapes. I have an underlying gestural style to my work and revel in experimenting with colour and surface... My ambition as an artist is to create work which evokes an emotional response from the viewer; to me, art is all about experience.
So, how did you go from abstract art to Augmented Reality? What was the journey?
When I was at Art school, I was exposed to a very short, one minute film from a fellow student who was into Virtual Reality. In this film, you were visually taken on a journey between the layers of paint on a painting. It just totally blew my mind. This idea has just sat there for four years since waiting to germinate.
So what happened to turn it from an idea to the project?
Let’s be clear here!! I’ve got no technology background but I just had this curiosity. I was painting away and it suddenly came to me again. I thought “Why don’t I do an AR project of showing the process of creating an abstract painting?” Then I just thought, ‘Well, actually, I’m going to do that.” It was as simple as that. I started talking to people about it and it was definitely triggering excitement so I knew there must be something in it.
So how did you go about it once you had this idea?
It took me several weeks and many conversations to find the right person to help me develop this dream. Scott Fletcher, producer and artist, listened to my idea and loved it. The decision was made, so we applied and were successful in securing Arts Council funding. Once money was secured, we brought onboard Innovative Experience Designer, Benjamin Walbrook, an Australian who had previously worked at the National Gallery of Victoria so has great insight into customer experience challenges.
I guess as simply as you can put it, how would you explain what your idea is. What will people be experiencing and seeing?
As a participant in this performance you will walk into a space which will be set aside for this experience. We are touring and have secured ‘We the Curious’, Bristol Science Museum, The Aquarium and several galleries, so the feel of the space will be different for each venue. However the constant will be my studio rug on the floor and my easel, complete with a blank canvas save for my signature. There will also be the finished painting and my paint splattered overalls which will be set to one side to view separately. I will greet you and explain this will be approximately a 4 minute experience and what to expect, you will be handed an iPad and headphones and then off you go - time to explore my process of painting in 3D. You’ll be able to see a molecular, ephemeral version of me as the painter moving around, gesturing and painting. As you engage with the movement, you’ll also be able to look at the blank canvas and see it develop through the stages in a time lapse. The canvas, easel and rug are a critical part of the performance, not just because they represent elements of my studio, but because they act as markers for the AR
It’s incredible because it’s a different way of seeing art right? It’s like you said it’s a performance, an experience.
Totally. When I paint I’m very energetic; I work quickly and I move around. There are a lot of short bursts of movements; applying paint, soaking the canvas with water, standing back to have a good look and think. There’s so much concentration and thought required in creating a painting. I wanted to be able to share.
What has it been like for you - jumping in between the art world and the technology world?
The meetings are amazing, especially the first few. To be honest, my head hurt by the time I left them! Technology speak was totally foreign to me; trying to keep up with the conversation was mind bending!! It was so exciting though; we planned to use some real cutting edge technology working from the VR Labs in Bristol.
Our first kick off meeting!
And, practically speaking, what is the process of bringing this idea to life?
I was all geared up in a motion capture suit for 2 days filming - going through the motions of my painting process and movements - without actually painting. I mimicked the brush strokes, reviewing the work, standing back to have a think, mark making etc, without paint actually touching the canvas. I then had approximately 3 days of filming me painting. 1 day was for Benjamin to understand the process steps when I paint and the remaining 2 days were for actually painting the piece. I had a camera suspended above my head focused on the canvas and shots were taken every 30 seconds for probably 10 hours. This has formed the basis of the timelapse. What’s amazing is that, at the end of this, approximately 10 hours of film is being condensed into four minutes.
That’s incredible!! Why do you think you’re drawn to Augmented Reality? Why do you think it works so well with what you’re trying to do?
What blows my mind with augmented reality is that you are placing the digital object into the real world. You can see the rug, the easel and canvas; but everything else you see is what is actually in the space so it’s quite different from virtual reality where you are placed in a world that you are not physically standing in.
The other point that is really important to me is that the experience is fun. Often people find it a bit difficult to relate to abstract art. I want to bridge that gap and make art accessible for all ages and all types of people. I don’t want it to be just for artists; I want it to be fun and interactive.
So, the initial plan was to tour this exhibition. Obviously, the dreaded Covid has had its impact. How have you had to change things?
I’m a full time optimist. As a result of COVID, the app idea was born. Basically, by the end of March, lockdown came about and it became pretty obvious we would have to delay the tour of the exhibition. One day I was reading the newspaper and saw an artist using AR to create a floating dog or something similar through an app. I just thought...this is the perfect opportunity to to make it global and share it with more people.
Amazing!! Tell us more!
So we’re creating an app; it’s going to be on iOS for Mac and phones and, through it, you will be able to watch the performance in a scaled down form on your kitchen table or any surface really. It gives us a chance to share the concept globally which wasn’t in the original plan but it’s such a positive.
I can just imagine children playing on this app; again it’s about making art accessible. It’s not about intimidating white walls but bringing it to a place where everyone can be relaxed about it.
That’s amazing!! But you’re still doing the tour too?
So we are still having the tour but it’s delayed. We can’t confirm dates yet but it will probably be the end of the year or the beginning of next year. It will depend on the venues and their revised schedules.
And you’ve always said this is the start of a conversation, not the end. What does that mean?
Absolutely. This project has always been a prototype. I want to get feedback from the audiences and then create something bigger. We’ve had this bonkers idea where you could have a massive exhibition space that looks empty but, really, there are these performance spaces where, using AR, you can see an abstract artist, a ceramicist, a sculptor… You’d remember it. Again, it’s all about experience.
You’re so obviously excited about all of this - and we can so see why. Can you pick your favourite thing about this whole experience?
I’ve most enjoyed learning. I’ve learnt so so much about the complexity of the technology and creativity process - the new experiences too. You know, I’ve never been filmed for two hours in a motion capture suit before! I’ve even loved the pressure of being filmed when painting. I love challenges; throw something at me and I’ll figure out how to do it.