robotlab works with industrial robots in public spaces.
It explores the relationship between man and machine by
means of installations and performances.
robots will play a significant role in future societies and will invade more
and more human domains. The most prevalent robots today are industrial robots.
Their number is rapidly increasing worldwide and has already exceeded one million.
Their mechanical and electronical capabilities grow with the continual development.
The direct coupling of precise mechanics and information processing
electronics results in a powerful technology which is discussed in
the sciences as 'artificial intelligence' and 'artificial life'.
Until now, people haven't had much chance to meet robots neither
in public nor in private spaces. robots are mostly situated in special
industrial spaces. Thus, humans do not have contact with them,
do not experience how they behave and do not know how to behave
correctly with them. Today, social patterns between man and machines
do not exist. Instead there are only fictional images from science
fiction literature and films.
robotlab creates experimental situations in exhibition spaces, in which
the public has the opportunity to interact with robots.
The massive appearance of the robots, the movements and the machine
sounds effect the visitor, are interpretated individually and evoke
ideas which may lay in the field of practical purposes as well as formulate an utopian image
of a future culture with man and machine.
robotlab is founded 2000 by Matthias Gommel, Martina Haitz and Jan Zappe.
The free artist group is associated to the Institute of Visual Media at
the ZKM - Center of Art and Media Karlsruhe, Deutschland.