Robots, social media, spray cans and three of the world’s leading design creatives came together in Auckland to create what’s believed to be the world’s first art painted by Twitter-controlled bots
Taking place at design conference Semi-Permanent, Orcon Spider Art saw the live creation of three artworks by specially designed robots controlled remotely by the Twitter community.
Barcelona graphic designer and illustrator Alex Trochut, Melbourne design studio SouthSouthWest and New York artist, designer and printmaker Kelli Anderson – all speaking at Semi-Permanent – all lent their support by gifting bespoke stencils that were affixed over three giant canvases.
During the two days of the conference the artworks were completed by ‘spiderbots’ – robots armed with spray cans that are controlled by Semi-Permanent attendees via Twitter.
Guests tweeted the coordinates of a square on the grid of their chosen artwork, the colour they’d like it painted and the Orcon Spider Art Twitter hashtag – then watch as the spiderbots spray paint as commanded.
At the end of the conference, once all squares were painted, the stencils were removed from the three canvases to reveal the final artworks. Two of the finished artworks were won by participants, while the third will be gifted to CanTeen.
Orcon brand and communications manager Quentin Reade says, “Spiders, Twitter and artwork are unusual bedfellows, but we’re really excited about seeing this whole thing and bringing another world-first to New Zealanders. We’ve always said the internet is everything, and now it’s changing the way we create art.”
The twitter-controlled bots were devised for Orcon by M&C Saatchi New Zealand.
M&C Saatchi digital producer Matt Ravenhall says the project is a great example of how technology can lead innovation in both design and art.
“Using technology and creativity to connect international artists with the social sphere is an exciting project for any company to undertake. This collaboration is a perfect example of what can be achieved when you combine high-speed internet and developing technology."