Abu Dhabi - A specialist in artificial intelligence, Aziosmanoff and his team of 40 technicians and artists spent nearly a year of research and work to create The Living Mona Lisa.
Published: Fri 20 Nov 2015, 11:00 PM
Last updated: Sun 22 Nov 2015, 7:33 AM
The world's most iconic painting, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, created over 500 years ago, has come to life at the Abu Dhabi Art (ADA), the capital's annual art fair taking place at Manarat Al Saadiyat until today.
While the original never leaves the Louvre Museum in Paris, a digital, interactive version, created by Florent Aziosmanoff for the Louvre, has made its first journey to the Middle East, brought here by a new art education platform - Artinabox.
"Florent has been an early advisory partner to Artinabox and we look forward to creating new and innovative art educational programmes together," said Catherine Kesting, founder of Artinabox.
A specialist in artificial intelligence, Aziosmanoff and his team of 40 technicians and artists spent nearly a year of research and work to create The Living Mona Lisa, using advanced computer algorithms and motion sensors. He was inspired by the 'myth' that da Vinci's Mona Lisa has an eye contact with its viewers from whichever angle they look at her.
"The Living Mona Lisa has exactly the same size as the original painting. When you walk past her, she will follow you with her eyes, blinking and smiling at you," Kesting told Khaleej Times.
The digital artwork is equipped with a motion sensing device used in interactive video games. It picks up passers by movements and their images, allowing her to "react" depending on her mood, so she may be smiling, but she may also be frowning at her audience.
The Living Mona Lisa is Artinabox's first project. Created under the umbrella of twofour54 and with the support of the French embassy and French cultural institutions here, the new initiative will be officially launched next year.
"I have two small kids and when we came to Abu Dhabi five years ago I started to miss museums, and I also wanted to give my children the opportunity to grow up with art," said Kesting. "I began working on an idea of a mobile space for children to enjoy art."
Artinabox has already established a partnership with the Algerian-French artist Rachid Koraichi, whose works have been exhibited at Abu Dhabi Art. The world-renowned artist will adapt a selection of his work into digital art pieces for Artinabox, which will be used to create innovative learning experiences for children focused on calligraphy and artistic expression.
In the meantime, Artinabox and Aziosmanoff have produced a playful and interactive forum to stimulate children's creativity and imagination at ADA.
silvia@khaleejtimes.com
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