The Fitful Sleeper

Video documentation from Salon Des Femmes Branchées #73. Video credit: RL Owens.

The Fitful Sleeper is an interactive animated installation piece. It's a game where the goal is to wake the sleeper up. A program in Max MSP is selecting videos in response to the noise being created in the space. However, the program adapts itself every minute-or-so to the median noise levels of the installation space. Therefore, in a party-type situation, one would have to make enough noise to surpass the "room noise" and begin agitating the sleeper. Contrariwise, if the installation space became silent, a footstep would trigger a scratch, yawn or twitch from the sleeper.

Made during a residency in 2008-9 at Studio XX in Montréal, Québec.