Twitter-controlled robots coming to Auckland design show

Robots, social media, spray cans and three of the world’s leading design creatives come together in Auckland this month 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 sees 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 – are lending their support by gifting bespoke stencils that will be affixed over three giant canvases.

During the two days of the conference the artworks will be completed by ‘spiderbots’ – robots armed with spray cans that are controlled by Semi-Permanent attendees via Twitter.

Guests tweet 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 have been painted, the stencils will be removed from the three canvases to reveal the final artworks. Two of the finished artworks will be won by participants, while the third will be gifted to CanTeen.

The twitter-controlled bots were devised for Orcon by M&C Saatchi and created by the London arm of New Zealand creative agency We Love Inc.

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 – we can’t wait to see the finished art.”

The spiderbots took 12 weeks to create and Nick Redwood, technical director of We Love Inc’s creative technology department We Love I.T., says a lot of trial, error and paint fumes were involved in the development process.

“Innovative projects such as this one are not for the faint-hearted and require some serious bravery from everyone involved, but the chance to do something new and world-first makes it all worth it.

“Twelve weeks and thousands of hours prototyping, testing, making, breaking and remaking are all part of it – from our studio in Hoxton, East London to the studio on K'Rd in Auckland," says Redwood.

Orcon Spider Art takes place at Semi-Permanent, at Auckland’s Aotea Centre, on 18 and 19 May. At the conference Semi-Permanent attendees will receive details on how to tweet their Orcon Spider Art commands.

The final artworks will be revealed on the afternoon of 19 May.