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Brainwave Arts

One of the terms I learned during the Art x Tech Canada @ SG seminar was Brainwave Arts. It is a type of art that uses human's brainwave as a key player on an art installation. And I think it fits the description of the project/topic I'm choosing.

When you google brainwave art, there are several well-known projects made by artists. However, brainwave arts are still not as common as other types of arts. This is because: to do brainwave arts, the artists need to have an interest or knowledge or the urge to learn some part of science as well.

Mostly, brainwave arts lean towards types of arts that plays with human's emotions or thinking, since the brain is where we control everything. Brainwave arts are considered more fluid and indefinite as well since everyone's mind will think differently, even when presented the same object.

One of the coolest brainwave arts I came across is: Making a song with repurposed brainwaves, by the creator of the show Sense8 on Netflix. The project collects 8 different fans of the show and records their brainwaves with a Muse headband. Then they set different tunes to different types of brainwaves and create a song in that way.

Another well-recognized performance art that includes brainwave is Euonia II by Liza Park. "I started working with biosensors especially EEG headset, because I questioned, 'How can I take this invisible energy and emotions and make it visible?'" Park tells Creators.


During the Art x Tech Canada @ SG, one of the opening speakers, Dr. Sara Diamond, mentioned about brainwave arts and a Montreal transdisciplinary artist called Maxime Michaud. He uses brainwaves, heart rate, and his throat action from a device he made, to create a 45-minute visualized song. His project was supported by The Canada Council for the Arts.


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