Transformando olhares com tecnologia, arte e árvores: Roberta Carvalho at TEDxVer-o-Peso
Art functions as a powerful catalyst for life by making us aware of our own experience, which the speaker defines as the act of practicing or rehearsing life. The central claim is that art and technology, when used together, facilitate a deeper connection to our existence, as demonstrated by a project utilizing projection to challenge viewers' perception of nature, such as making seemingly non-existent trees appear to move. The strongest evidence is the anecdote of a lady from the countryside vehemently stating, *"I knew they had eyes, and they come to us."*
## Speakers & Context
- Unnamed speaker; passionate about technology and art's connection to human experience.
- Discusses a project called *Symbioses*, an art-media project using technology to connect the speaker with people.
- Brings up Nietzsche's idea that *"man is no longer an artist, he has become the work of art itself."*
## Theses & Positions
- Life itself is fundamentally an experience, defined by the verb "to experience," meaning to put into practice or rehearse.
- Art's primary function is to be a "great enabler of life" and a "great stimulant of life" through forms of expression.
- Technology requires external animation or strength to function effectively.
- Art's best function is to connect humans to their internal selves and to the surrounding world.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Experience:** Defined as the act of putting something into practice, trying, or rehearsing.
- **Symbiosis:** An ecological term designating a mutually beneficial relationship between two beings of different species.
- **Projection (artistic):** A means of expression that demonstrates a desired action and an internal strength that prevents silence.
- **First and second nature:** Philosophical concepts related to how we perceive nature's presence.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Symbiotic Relationship:** The guiding concept for the art project; modeled initially by a man in a fetal position in a womb/great tree.
- **Art-media project:** The practical application using technology to connect the speaker with people.
- **Technique:** Using a projector pointed somewhere, but aiming for a "projection beyond the projection."
- **Process of challenging perception:** Intentionally creating visual stimuli (like moving trees) that force viewers to question what they normally take for granted.
## Timeline & Sequence
- **2008:** Year the *Symbioses* project originated.
- **Ongoing:** The speaker has taken the work to "other places and other people" over several trips this year.
## Named Entities
- **Nietzsche:** Philosopher cited regarding the relationship between man and art.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **Projector:** Core piece of technology used in the *Symbioses* work.
- ***Symbioses* project:** The overarching art-media project.
- **Technology:** Seen as needing external strength or animation to operate.
## Examples & Cases
- **Initial Projection:** A man in a fetal position within the womb of a great tree.
- **Perceptual Challenge:** Showing viewers images, such as a tree where none was previously seen, to provoke reflection.
- **Experiential Engagement:** Inviting participants to be part of the project, making the relationship with nature an *experience* rather than just a record.
- **Viewer Reactions:** People describing the perceived movement in trees ("Wow! Is it my imagination?").
- **Cultural Impact:** Some viewers labeling the trees as "monsters," others as "green creatures, trees with frightening, observant eyes," and others with affection.
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- The speaker admits the initial *Symbioses* projection was *very simple* in execution.
- The speaker acknowledges the difficulty in fully articulating the emotional resonance of the work.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- Art should aim to connect humans to "what our existence makes us reflect and think about."
- The ultimate goal is to use technology not just to show, but to provoke a deep, relational contact with nature and self.
## Implications & Consequences
- The speaker's practice aims to shift understanding away from merely observing nature toward actively *experiencing* a relationship with it.
- The ability to question basic perception ("how come we don't notice the trees around us?") has lasting impact.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"Our existential condition as living beings makes our experience something very special, special because we are aware of it."*
- *"Art is the great enabler of life, the great stimulant of life."*
- *"This work is very simple: take a projector, point it somewhere."*
- *"I'll look there, look there, but how come there's a tree here? There isn't one here, Grandma, Grandma, can't you see it moving?"*
- *"How come we don't notice the trees around us?"*
- *"Man is no longer an artist, he has become the work of art itself."*
- *"I knew they had eyes, and they come to us."*