{"id":1422,"date":"2023-06-29T16:47:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T15:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/?p=1422"},"modified":"2023-06-30T10:37:12","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T09:37:12","slug":"giant-inflatable-robots-descend-on-bristol-city-centre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/giant-inflatable-robots-descend-on-bristol-city-centre\/","title":{"rendered":"Giant inflatable robots descend on Bristol city centre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>Unfurl, photo \u00a9 Mark Gray<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emma Powell makes robots for poking, squishing, and hugging. She\u2019s Co-Director of Air Giants, a local creative robotics studio, making pioneering and monumental work for an international audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We interviewed&nbsp;Emma&nbsp;ahead of the unveiling of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playablecity.com\/projects\/squ\/\">Squeeze Me<\/a>, a group of new interactive inflatable creatures who&#8217;ll be wrapped around lampposts on Brandon Hill, Bristol, 4-9 July 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-8.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1424\" width=\"630\" height=\"384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-8.png 975w, https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-8-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-8-768x469.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>Emma Powell, Co-Director at Air Giants<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><strong>What was your journey from illustration to inflatable robotics?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was long and unexpected!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I picked up many design and fabrication skills on my Illustration degree in the wonderfully equipped workshops at UWE. After graduation I did freelance model-making work for film and TV. Working at Puppet Place in Bristol was hugely transformative. It\u2019s a great working hub for puppetry of all sorts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>I spent many years designing and making puppets for theatre all over the world<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mechanisms and animatronics have always been a passion of mine, and it was the combination of these disciplines with design that made me interested in robotics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I met my colleague Richard at an event on Stokes Croft. We shared an interest in beautiful mechanical things. He had made some experiments with moving inflatable structures.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I fell in love with the scale and the organic motion of them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I realised that I\u2019d spent many years working on other people&#8217;s ideas and that it could be time to work on my own. We started Air Giants, pitching for the first time for funding. Three years later, Air Giants is touring artworks which take that feeling of excitement and emotional impact to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which of your creatures is your personal favourite and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are elements of each piece that I think are exceptional and it\u2019s hard to pick a favourite. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I love the relationships people build with Luma. They can get really attached to her and we get many repeat visitors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LUMA - Air Giants\" width=\"840\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sbwkjgIFW1w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sup>Luma, Ashton Court in Bristol, 2021<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfurl, is wonderful because it\u2019s a whole garden which is large enough to create a complete interactive environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-10.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-10.png 975w, https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-10-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-10-768x509.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>Unfurl, Freedom Festival 2023, \u00a9 Tarran Photography<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m excited about what is coming up in our new project, Squeeze Me. It\u2019s the first time we\u2019ve used touch sensing in a piece of work.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get it to interact with you, you have to poke, squish or hug it!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why do you think Bristol is a thriving hub for creative technology?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It has strong traditions of puppetry, animation and robotics as well as a thriving film and TV scene. Its size means that there is a real creative technology community, with lots of companies supporting and championing each other. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Places like the Watershed and the Pervasive Media Studio actively support innovative practitioners and help to develop the city\u2019s strong networks between universities, industries and creative businesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UWE Bristol is often involved in the multi-partner teams that support the creative industries.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;re a new member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.watershed.co.uk\/studio\/\">Pervasive Media Studio<\/a> &#8211; a creative technologies collaboration between Watershed, UWE Bristol and University of Bristol. UWE was a partner of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swctn.org.uk\/\">South West Creative Technology Network<\/a> team that funded Air Giants\u2019 earliest experimental work, and is a main delivery partner of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myworld-creates.com\/\">MyWorld<\/a> program which is supporting a huge range of creative innovation in the region, including our own. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How do Air Giants contribute to accessibility and inclusivity within the Arts?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our work offers a really low barrier to engagement. It\u2019s about what you can see, hear and touch and how that makes you feel. There\u2019s no language element and you don\u2019t need any previous experience of the arts to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Audiences across the world love our work, from the very young to the elderly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It draws a lot of primal responses from people which are about playfulness and the feeling of communing with something huge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"612\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-11.png 612w, https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/06\/image-11-300x197.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><sup>Luma, Leeds Shopping Centre, 2021<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-gray-background-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Do you have a dream project you can tell us about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ve been thinking about how our robots could interact with the human body in a performance context. We\u2019re natural collaborators\u2026 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019d love to work on a large-production with other creatives, from dancers, opera singers, street performers to concert pianists.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m also excited to see where our new work, Squeeze Me, tours this year. The work is battery-powered, which means we can install it\u2026 anywhere!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More about Squeeze Me and Playable City<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.playablecity.com\/projects\/squ\/\">Squeeze Me<\/a> will be installed on Brandon Hill as part of Bristol\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playablecity.com\/\">Playable City<\/a> event. Huge, inflatable and illuminated creatures, will be wrapped around trees, lamp posts or other street furniture, inviting passers-by to hug, squeeze, lean on or poke them. Creatures will respond with shape-change, light and sound and will influence other creatures nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dates and times as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tuesday 4 July \u2013 Thursday 6 July, 16:00 \u2013 22:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Friday 7 July \u2013 Saturday 8 July, 14:00 \u2013 22:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunday 9 July, 14:00 \u2013 18:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.airgiants.co.uk\">www.airgiants.co.uk<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br><strong>UWE Bristol alumni \u2013 quick links<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\">UWE Bristol Alumni homepage<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/stay-connected\">Sign up for offers and fundraising and update your details<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/alumni-connect\">Join Alumni Connect online mentoring network<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/discounts-and-facilities\">Explore Alumni benefits and discounts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uwe.ac.uk\/business\/support-uwe-bristol\/uwe-bristol-fund\">Support UWE Bristol Fund<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unfurl, photo \u00a9 Mark Gray Emma Powell makes robots for poking, squishing, and hugging. She\u2019s Co-Director of Air Giants, a local creative robotics studio, making pioneering and monumental work for an international audience. We interviewed&nbsp;Emma&nbsp;ahead of the unveiling of Squeeze Me, a group of new interactive inflatable creatures who&#8217;ll be wrapped around lampposts on Brandon &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/giant-inflatable-robots-descend-on-bristol-city-centre\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Giant inflatable robots descend on Bristol city centre&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":1438,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-bristol","category-profile"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1422"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1452,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1422\/revisions\/1452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}