Paolo Scoppola

A large screen hanging in the middle of a room. A person approaches it and sees their silhouette reflected, another person moves their hand and forms a luminous flowing wake. Yet another starts talking and a speech bubble appears that comes to life with their voice. Like a magic mirror, the screen responds with sounds and images to any cue a person might make.

You move, driven by curiosity, so you can see what will happen. Before long, through simple gestures, you understand the language and enter into a relationship with the installation.

The colours, shapes, the sounds of an audiovisual work, are no longer fixed in relation to space and time, but become dynamic elements of a representation that is born and lives through the body of the viewer.

This is the world of Paolo Scoppola, a versatile artist who turns the concept of perception upside down to obtain a form of physical interaction with the work, in which the viewer can but surrender to the pleasure of rediscovering the meaning of image and sound.

The video installations appear on large screens in front of which the audience moves freely interacting with drawings, photographs, music, sounds and anything else that can be reproduced on a computer. It is the material the artist creates with his hands and then makes interactive software through, which he has developed himself. A creative process in which the space between art and science is crossed again and again, until it disappears.

Passing from the essentiality of pencil and musical notes, to the wealth of detail of photographs and images on the computer. In the centre there is the human figure, with the need of interiority and the desire to interact and form relationships.

Scattered elements in a creative space that the artist has visited many times, finding his own identity in designing the pathways that connect the different disciplines. Creativity becomes a geographical map, where

there are no isolated areas, but one single territory.

It is a vision that comes from coming into physical contact with the earth, crossing entire mountainous regions on foot. There is an identity in being part of a world and an identity in covering the distance between one world and another, internalising their relationship, step after step.

Biography

Paolo Scoppola creates interactive video installations based on natural interfaces. Born in Rome in 1971, his passion for music and drawing blossomed at school. He discovered his interest in photography later and then for computer science, which he went on to study at university. After graduating, he worked for ten years in the development of virtual reality applications and 3D software, also creating some musical projects for television productions and a series of photographic reportages. After a short period of lecturing at the Experimental Centre of Cinematography (Italian National Film School), he devoted his time to interactive video installations. In 2008 he presented his first work: Reflection, at the Festival of Spoleto. In 2011, he extended his interests to interaction based on brain waves, developing research projects in collaboration with the University of Trieste. In 2012, for the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, he realised along with embrio.net ‘Il Dono della massa’ ‘The Gift of mass’, a video installation that tells the story of the discovery of the Higgs boson. He currently works with advertising agencies, research organisations and participates in festivals and cultural events.

www.paoloscoppola.com

contact@paoloscoppola.com +39 339 1625089 - Rome

Interactive Art

Photography

Drawings

Music

SonoraMulti-screen interactive installation

We enter an oneiric and archaic scenario, made up of desolate landscapes, rocky surfaces, sculptures and unknown faces. We find ourselves in a context in which place and time lose their significance. A series of fluctuating filaments, animated by the sound, float through space to then merge into a single object. The eye slowly makes out that the filaments are forming into something that is recognizable.

This is perception. It is a landscape seen from above, the surface of a statue, a face, a flower. It’s that subconscious experience of trying to recognize something. An intuitive and poetic act that allows us

to appreciate beauty. This project seeks to investigate the impact of the digital technology on the perceptive experience, by going from a conceptual approach to an everyday world that is filled with instinctive and emotional aspects.

EVENTS

MUSE Opening, Trento 27.07.2013Portes Ouvertes Consolat, Marseille, 07-09.10.2011Assurde IRONIE – Miela Theater, Trieste 12.05.2012

The Gift Of The MassMulti-screen interactive installation

A project in collaboration with the visual art lab embrio.net and the Italian National Institute Nuclear Physics, on the discovery of the Higgs boson. The installation on multiple screen, creates a virtual environment where viewers live the experience to trasform themselves from energy to mass.

In 2012, scientists at CERN announced that it had finally discovered the elusive Higgs Boson. The Italian National Institute Nuclear Physics, among the protagonists of the discovery, has decided to create an interactive installation to popularize the importance of this achievement in public events. “Il dono della massa” (The gift of the mass) doesn’t attempt to explain what the Higgs Boson is, rather to create an environment full of suggestions, where everyone can create

their own representation of the transformation from energy to mass. “Il dono della massa” doesn’t attempt to explain what the Higgs Boson is, rather to create an environment full of suggestions, where everyone can create their own representation of this important discovery, based on the perceptions and the emotions experienced in front of the screens.The installation is conceived for a group experience. Each viewer, when approaching one of the screens, is reflected in a sort of dust, having a certain color and a certain sound, distinct from the others. As he get closer, the figure progressively takes the shape of his own body: here’s transformation from energy to mass. As other people come, other sounds are played, thus experiencing a musical representation of the Higgs Field.

EVENTS

Festival Della Filosofia, Modena 14.09.2012 - 08.10.2012Festival Della Scienza, Genova 25.10.2012 - 06.11.2012Arte Fiera, Bologna 25.01.2013 - 28.01.2013 White Night, Riga 7.9.2013 - 8.9.2013

BollMulti-screen Interactive installation for multiple players, with multiple scenarios.

I am in and They are out.There is a veil in front of me and I can cross.I want to see me.

Boll is a reflection on the relationship between inner and outer world. Inside there is “I”, the single. Outside there are “They”, the multitude of things, people and ideas.

The artist imagines these worlds, separated by an invisible membrane

and focuses its attention on the act of crossing it, that is, the action to move from one world to another.

The installation is conceived through a series of scenarios played on one or more large screens to which the public approaches to experience different sensorial experiences.

software, music and pictures: Paolo Scoppola

EVENTS

Eccentriche Visioni – Miela Theater, Trieste 10.05.2014Open House – lasituazione, Rome 11.05.2014 (in collaboration with Kappabit)

Air DropsInteractive video installation for single player

Air drops is an experience on the perception of space, color and sound. The viewer becomes the artist and paints abstract shapes on the screen by moving the hands in the air. Sounds from the nature are binded with the movements of the brush and a music is played to stimulate the imagination. When the painting is finished, the image is recorded and becomes part of an online gallery.

The aim of this project is not to create a tool for painters, especially because it’s intended for public events, where most of the viewers don’t have any painting skills. On the other side, the images that appear in the web gallery, even if they have almost always a pleasant and well-defined aspect, do not aspire to be art works. The artistic value lies in the performance of the painter, when he/she starts to interact with the screen and the music which creates an intimate atmosphere and stimulates the viewer’s creativity. This leads to a pleasant discovery of colors, shapes, sounds and notes. The image on the screen contains

very simple elements that nonetheless attract the painter’s attention, because they come directly from his/her gestures and therefore take on a completely different value. Finally the desire of doing something nice drives the painter to create shapes until he/she feels that nothing more has to be added to the screen. The painter feels gratification for having made something pleasant and decides to save the painting on the computer.

Therefore the value of this interactive installation doesn’t consist of the possibility to do something more complex than just viewing a movie or hearing music. The major point of interest becomes the cognitive process, the possibility to approach the concepts of image and sound in a completely different manner. Air Drops has been presented in several events during 2011/12 and has been successfully experienced by children, adults, and the elderly.

EVENTS

Fuorisalone, Spazio Concept, Milan 13.04.2013Follie d'Autore, Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome 19.05.2012ECALP Conference, Florence 09.05.2012Trieste Mental Health Department, 25.11.2011POC Festival, Marseille, 7-8-9.10.2011European Researchers Night, Trieste, 23.09.2011Molisecinema Festival, Casacalenda, 6th August 2011Romascienza, Villa Borghese, Rome, 21.06.2011Satie's Birthday, Teatro Miela, Trieste, 14th May 2011Youth Communication Forum, European University of Rome, 15.04.2011Asino Che Vola, Rome, 20.03.2011

Brain Dropsinteractive video installation for single player wearing EEG headset

Brain Drops is a research project made in collaboration with the Brain Center of Trieste, headed by Prof. Battaglini. The object is to understand how the interaction with images and sounds can stimulate the mind of a subject that uses a brain computer interface. (1). The Brain Drops Installation, at this early stage, is a custom version of Air Drops, where colors and music can be changed through a brain computer interface based on electroencephalography (EEG) . The installation has been presented at the European Researchers Night 2011 in Trieste and it successfully worked with both children and adults. Currently we are testing the software on a patient suffering from the locked-in syndrome (2).While someone is drawing with the hand, the patient, wearing a special headset connected to the computer, changes

color and music by producing motor signals in the brain. During these sessions we observe his reaction on doing something creative and pleasant, in place of simply establishing a communication with the exterior world. The next step will be developing a completely brain controlled application and see what results can be achieved in terms of brain activity stimulation and communication efficiency. About my artistic work, my interest is on learning how interactive contents, from a physical point of view, can make cognitive process more involving. But what makes even more interesting this experience in the neuroscience, is discovering that the brain is not an mysterious entity, but something that we can psychically perceive as we do since birth, as any other part of our body.

EVENTS

European Researchers Night , Trieste 2011Robotica, Milan 2012

The Cloud interactive video wall for multiple players

A collaboration with The Brand Shop advertising agency for developing an interactive wall. Through the gestures and the interaction with images and sounds, the viewers enter in a world of perceptions and emotions, living a true brand experience. The viewer plays with hundreds of floating graphic objects that remind him something about a certain brand. As the viewer get close to the screen, they smoothly

fly away from his projection, making various kind of sounds. When the interaction with those objects reaches a certain level, a short movie starts on the foreground, showing different contents each time. The installation is designed as a modular structure, which can easily change the layout to suit different contexts.

EVENTS

Convention Telecom Italia, Museum fur Kommunikation, Berlin 2012Eataly Opening, Ostiense Railway Station, Rome 2012CuboVision Stand, Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome 2012

::Reflectioninteractive video installation for multiple players

Project design, software development, graphic and sound design

A visit to an art gallery is usually an experience of moving in a world of still images, indifferent to where we move. What would it be like if the images were able to follow us? And what if sounds could do the same?::Reflection allows images and sounds to follow the visitors, moving on the screen or from one speaker to another, as if there were a sort of reflection between them and the people. As people look at the screen, an image appears and follows them as they move around. Each observer

creates a physical relationship with an image and a sound or melody. But the viewer also understands that their movements become part of a performance, watched by the other visitors.Instead of sharing a single image with all the viewers, every individual has their own image and sound and so can create a personal relationship with the contents. At the same time other viewers are forming similiar relationships allowing you to enter a new world of perceptions.

EVENTS

Spoleto Festival, 2008

Nature Speaks Interactive installation

Nature Speaks is a cry of protest against the invasion of humans on planet Earth. It’s an installation that embraces several techniques, from video mapping on a sculpture to motion graphics and physical interactivity. It’s a primordial and immaculate world where the

spectators become invaders leaving their polluting traces, until nature rebels sarcastically and ironically. So the stones slyly remind men that their existence began long time before men appeared on Earth and will certainly survive men passage on the planet.

3Eg0 Klipman: video mappingPaolo Scoppola: interactivitySara Taigher: sculpture

EVENTS

Live Performance Meeting, Rome 2011

Fragile. Do Not Dropinteractive video installation for multiple players

Fragile. Do Not Drop” is a reflection on the precarious balance of the planet in the light of environmental catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. As the paper figures move the objects on the screen thanks to the ability of computers to track their movements, in the same manner the viewers interact with images without using any physical device.

In this installation, the viewer moves and draws the waves of an abstract ocean, making it appear a series of glistening bodies. They are fascinating creatures, created by the mind, but it can be dangerous evoke them, as it is the desire for development which results in an unsustainable exploitation of the planet.

pictures: Sara Taighersoftware, music: Paolo Scoppola

subscribed at Share Prize 2010

Hubble’s Eyeinteractive video installation for multiple players

Interactive video installation presented at The Researcher’s Night at Frascati, Italy 2008 in collaboration with the Italian Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology (INAF). The face of the viewers are linked to pictures taken by the Hubble telescope. When they go in front of the

screen, planets, satellites and asteroids appear and move in a 3D space according to their positions. The music inspire the moves of the viewers and the planets start to dance.

software, music: Paolo Scoppola

EVENT

Researchers’Night , Frascati, 2008

Dottodotinteractive video installation

Dottodot is an installation commisioned for the Mozilla Firefox 4.0 release party in Rome, on 15th April 2011. It’s the well know game Dot-to-dot transformed in to a video installation, where the user uses the hands to connect the dots on the screen

EVENTS

Mozilla Firefox release party, Rome 2011

Photography

Cameroon

In the hospitals near the equator, where life reaches its highest expression, being sick is like an unfairness and it turns stronger in the streets, where Africans show their everlasting joy. (2006). Made in collaboration with the University Of Rome, Tor Vergata.e (IsIAO), Rome 29.5 - 6.6.2007

Harar

Walking along the walls of the holy muslim town of Harar, in the south east of Ethiopia. (2005)

Moxoto

In the faraway land of Pernambuco, Brazil, there is a place where life is guided by the rhythm of the hooves, where man on horses roam around with faces proud and suspicious, while a calm reigns in the streets (2009)

Garhwal

The monsoons turn the Indian Himalayan region into a surreal landscape, where the verticality defies imagination and man looks so fragile, he could be swept away at any moment. (2002)

City Landscape

A flight over the roofs of several towns and cities around the world, from India to Bolivia, Peru, Eritrea, Italy and Spain. The view from above allows us to see the density of building and their staying side by side. The landscape dramatically changes from one country to another, but not the universal need of aggregation that does not seem to belong to any specific culture. (2007)

Mountain Speak

Cliffs, ridges, woods and other details of mountain landscapes can be seen as elements of a language where speech is the mountain itself. As we observe the morphology, we contemplate its aesthetic value and it is no wonder that these forms have contributed to create a universal idea of beauty. (2004)

Argoba

Argoba is a Muslim tribe that lives in Ethiopia. Near the city of Harar, there are small villages where these people still lives with the signs of the civilization under their eyes. As with any minority, the problem this tribe faces is keeping traditions while trying to integrate with Ethiopian society. (2005)

Cameroon

Harar

Moxoto

Garhwal

City Landscape

Mountain Speak

Argoba

Drawings

Distracted Beings

Strange beings, lazy and distracted, stepped out of a laboratory experiment. They observe the world with indifference and unconscious irony. Do not care problems. They do not know the pain any more, everything has already happened.

graphite on paper - 21 x 15 cm. (2005)

Pianist, Eyes And Mouth

An eye with legs, eating words and rests dreaming. A mouth that devours piano keys, while a group of pianists get into panic. Where I am? What is this dream? The peace is there before, but something is opposed.

acrylic on packaging paper - 32 x 25 cm. (2003)

Brain

Thoughts seen as “forms” ... Start in brain, then take flight and become reality.

graphite on paper - 29 x 21 cm. (2003)

Life

Three circles, connected by a wire. A mother and her children. Then all the mystery that has generated this line, a story even a little funny and entertaining.graphite on paper - 29 x 21 cm. (2003-2012)

Distracted Beings

Pianist, Eyes And Mouth

Brain

Life

Music

Soundscape

Sounds and noises recorded during travels, acoustic instruments, digital effects … No rules, just a landscape of sounds - 2012

Digital piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, syntetizer, noises, sounds, effects.

My Nice River 4:38Bol 2:07At The Top Of The Sea 1:51Animals 2:34Undefined Being 2:24

Improvisa

Melodic improvisations on piano and guitar. It’s a sort of meditation to understand and release the emotions. There is no research, there is no desire to discover new worlds, but only the need to listen to themselves - 2013

Digital Piano, acoustic and classic guitar, digital marimba

Beyond The Clouds 3:12Petals 1:20After Brazil 3:28Split up 3:05 9 Maybe You Can 1:22

Mamucabinha 6:04Caress 4:21Sidewalk 4:04

Distracted Beings

Strange beings, lazy and distracted, stepped out of a laboratory experiment. They observe the world with indifference and unconscious irony. Do not care problems. They do not know the pain any more, everything has already happened - 2011.

Synthesizer, sampler, digtial piano and loops

Distracted Beings 6:49 Giant Irides 2:08 Vois 2:56Robots Are Coming 1:28 Prysm 4:30 Balero 3:01

What Am I Doing Here

Background music for the exhibition “What am I doing here”, a reportage by the Agenzia Contrasto that documents the conditions of mothers and their children in Italian prisons. Rome, Italian House of Representatives – Camera dei Deputati (2007)

Digital piano, digital bass, ronroco, classic guitar, harmonica, electric guitar

Vita In Carcere 2:56Sigaretta 2:36Notte 1:22Bambino Esce Dal Carcere 2:06

Exp

An experience through freehand drawing and musical improvisation. Before recording improvisations, I do not have any idea about what I am going to play. I do not prepare or decide anything before pressing the record button and, because of this, each track is unrepeatable. Likewise in the sketches I create to train for music improvisations, every line is drawn and never altered - 2005.

Acoustic Piano

In Fondo Va Bene 2:53Grande 4:01Emersione 4:12Scendeno le scale 4:40

Amera

In the winter of 2004 I spent two weekend alone in a recording room with a baby grand Steinway. For about eight hours I played everything it passed through my mind. Then I collected the best improvisations and I put them in this album.

Acoustic piano

Intro 1:14Binds 5:39Green 3:46Arcs 5:42Nodes 2:35

Joke 0:29Contacts 3:34Brown 2:10

Leggere per Emergency

Background music for movies where italian actors reads children’s novels from countries at the war. Project realized by Emergency in collaboration with Corriere Della Sera, 2010.

Digital piano

Valerio Mastrandrea reads “Chi è il più forte” 3:51Aldo reads “Gurnatallla” 4:04Giovanni reads “Il ragno e il gallo” 4:13

Voices

Songs and talks recorded during travels mixed with instruments and digital effects - 2010

Voice, Electric Guitar, Digital Piano, Jembe, Tabla, Syntetizer, Sampler

Stok’s Song 1:48Argoba 1:22Across The Voices 1:58

I Libri di Minerva

Soundtrack for a docu-fiction about the Italian Senate Library, directed by Alessandro Piva and produced by Gruppo Keren, 2006 – Winner of the first edition of the national competition for short films ‘A Corto di di Libri’, 2009.

Digital piano, classic guitar, sampler, syntetizer

Television

Television theme music and advertising, 2006-2010.

Digital piano, classic guitar, sampler, syntetizer, percussions

Contratto Theme song of “Il Contratto”, La7 TV Reality Show – 2010Theme song of “A Come Animali” , TV Show, RAI 1 - 2010Television advert for Acqua Lete, spot “Surfing”, with the collaboration of Coy Paez - 2005Television advert for Gazzetta dello Sport, spot “Alieni”, with the collaboration of Pasquale Laino - 2006