The Mechanical Bloom is an enigmatic yet social creature, an ‘uncanny’ organism with its own autonomy. It operates as a social machine, engaging with people, yet its interactions do not consistently convey a sense of care or concern. While this enigmatic creation ‘invites’ you to engage with it, beneath its exterior lies a deliberate detachment – it fulfills no functions nor makes connections, providing a canvas for spectators to project their own perceptions onto its seemingly purposeless actions. This (anti)social machine operates autonomously, following its own whims, while the audience confers meaning, injecting the spectacle with layers of interpretation and subjective understanding, even though the robot remains indifferent to its audience’s presence and expectations.
Inspired by the segmented body parts of centipedes and scorpions (arachnids), ‘alien’-looking creatures evoking fear and disgust in many, ‘the mechanical bloom’ defies convention – unable to perform any designated function, pursue specific goals, foster connections, engage in care – it represents a device practically useless to humans. It has been designed to be devoid of utility, instead serving as an exploration tool for spectacle and a heightened awareness of human-centered experience.
Done in collaboration with Adrienne Hart (Neon Dance) and Hemma Philamore (Bristol Robotics Lab, University of Bristol)
Concept: Adrienne Hart & Ana Rajcevic, with Hemma Philamore (Bristol Robotics Lab, University of Bristol)
Robot design and research: Ana Rajcevic
CAD design and 3D elements: Alix Partridge, Charlie Hope & Star Holdon
Robotics and telepresence: Hemma Philamore, Alix Partridge, Calum Gillespie (Bristol Robotics Lab, University of Bristol)
Performance Animatronics: Charlie Hope, Star Holdon
Photography: Ana Rajcevic, Simos Batzakis
(the robot is part of the ongoing Prehensions Bloom project)