Kevin Schmidt: Nosotros Are The Robots Lights Upwardly The Vag Alongside Interactive Installations
![]() |
Kevin Schmidt, 'dIY HIFI, 2014 - 16, wood Lowther DX55 speakers, DIY kit subway scheme amplifier, cables, hardware. Courtesy of the Artist in addition to Catriona Jeffries, Vancouver |
Kevin Schmidt: We Are the Robots
Jul 14–Oct 28, 2018
Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby
DIY-Inspired Creations Unveiled at the VAG
H5N1 novel interactive installation happening at the Vancouver Art Gallery this summertime volition pick out DIY-er's in addition to nerdy audiophiles alike converging to meet BC-based Multimedia artist, Kevin Schmidt's interactive installation, We Are the Robots.
The exhibition spotlight's Schmidt, who draws on aspects of conceptual in addition to functioning fine art spell embodying the do-it-yourself (DIY) sensibilities of an amateur inventor. The title, We Are The Robots is inspired yesteryear the rootage of the discussion robot, inwards Czech robota, pregnant "forced work". Showcasing Schmidt's exploration of DIY noesis production, the presentation points at the utopian aspects of majority noesis distribution that nosotros meet over the Internet, similar how-to videos on YouTube for example, in addition to the pressures to commodify in addition to ready noesis that circulates through this system. Schmidt uses this interactive electronic fine art installation to pose questions close the nature of DIY projects in addition to its' ship on on both the environs in addition to our values.
"What I'm actually interested in, in addition to what I desire to pick out attending to is, yes, it's actually bully to exercise all this DIY materials but it's all based on resources extraction in addition to I desire to ask, "What are the values of that? What are the relative values close the agency we're running things? I don't actually pick out the answer, but it's something I desire to inquire questions about, or people to remember close or problematize. I'm presenting this torso on how to exercise this, but essentially it's on a platform that's trying to capitalize on the production of knowledge. Its non merely for free, thus that's i matter I'm trying to highlight, in addition to the other matter is the production in addition to ability to run all this stuff. It besides has drawbacks. That's why inwards the audiophile I pick out a plain recording I made on the Peace River of an surface area that volition hold upward flooded yesteryear the Site C Dam; thus it's like, where all these birds nest in addition to when they inundation it, that habitat volition hold upward gone, the environs volition hold upward rattling different." Kevin Schmidt
For a to a greater extent than in-depth expect at the exhibit, melody into our IGTV channel HERE to meet our total video interview amongst Kevin Schmidt on site at the VAG !
The exhibit is separated into 3 unique installations.
DIY HIFI, 2014-16
wood, Lowther DX55 speakers, DIY kit subway scheme amplifier
cables, hardware. Courtesy of the Artist in addition to Catriona Jeffries
Bring your favourite vinyl in addition to sense well information you lot may pick out never heard earlier inwards this interactive makeshift audiophile listening room. Comprised of gigantic stereo speakers, a kit subway scheme amp in addition to a "sweet spot" listening chair, Schmidt has reimagined the refined sense of audiophile listening (typically presented inwards somebody domestic settings), equally world sculpture. The walls inwards the room are besides business office of the exhibit, where Schmidt has built acoustic diffusers using woods remnants from cabinetry reno's.
![]() |
Photo: |
![]() |
Photo: |
RGB Beg Cycle, 2018
styrofoam model, RGB lighting, DMX controllers
customized recording software, MIDI keyboards, computer
Courtesy of the Artist in addition to Catriona Jeffries
If you lot plough over to hold upward passing yesteryear the Gallery outside, anyone tin meet some other of Schmidt's interactive inventions, the fluorescent, multi-coloured LED lite strips aligning the Gallery's facades corresponding to notes played on electronic keyboards within that are installed inwards the 3rd flooring galleries. Reminiscent of retro video games, the installation is programmed inwards such a agency that whenever at that spot is a lapse inwards the interaction, the installation volition start to lite upward in addition to play, luring i to come upward in addition to play (from both within in addition to exterior of the gallery).
![]() |
Photo: |
How to Make an Off-Grid Hydroelectric Light Show, 2018
direct stimulate washing machine, hose, cables, battery, inverter,
modular synthesizer, lights, video
Courtesy of the Artist in addition to Catriona Jeffries
Featuring a novel video in addition to sculptural run which involves the clever reconfiguration of a repurposed washing machine to generate plenty electricity capable of producing a lite present inwards a wilderness setting. The play betwixt modular synthesizers in addition to surround sounds besides references the Youtube genre of performers, some amongst large online followings, who laid an idyllic landscape equally the backdrop to a synthesizer's production of soundscapes modulated yesteryear a disembodied hand. Click here for the how-to video.
![]() |
Photo: |
![]() |
Photo: |
"Kevin Schmidt harnesses his curiousity in addition to passion for DIY structure to exceed the logic of the everyday. The elementary genius of Kevin's inventions in addition to the dramatic natural settings inwards which he oft presents them has inspired many fans. With this presentation, visitors volition pick out the chance to honor his creations similar never earlier inwards an exciting hands-on in addition to interactive way, within in addition to exterior the gallery. Kathleen S. Bartels, Director of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Schmidt commencement gained attending inwards 2002 for Long Beach Led Zep, a single-channel video where he is featured playing guitar lines from Led Zeppelin's 1971 hit, "Stairway to Heaven". Using a gasoline powered generator in addition to Marshall amp, he performs amongst the backdrop of Vancouver Island's picturesque Long Beach. Since then, Schmidt created the epic work, H5N1 Sigh inwards the Northwest Passage (2010), placing a large cedar billboard inscribed amongst text from the New Testament's Book of Revelations on frozen surfaces of the Northwest Passage. Schmidt besides produced High Altitude Balloon Harmless Amateur Radio Equipment (201), inwards which he fastened a photographic boob tube camera onto a homemade conditions balloon to capture the atmosphere's upper limits.
Kevin Schmidt: We Are the Robots
Jul 14–Oct 28, 2018
Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby
Artist info
Also opening inwards July at the Vancouver Art Gallery: Ayumi Goto in addition to Peter Morin: how exercise you lot ship the land? Stay tuned for a post service coming soon!