Artery - Contemporary Video Artists Documentary On-line

Matthew John Perkins, Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts.

This project seeks to use e-Research tools for distributing information via an online video documentary databank. In 2006/2007 a pilot project was created called the Australian Video Art Archive  (AVAA) which features new and historical Australian video and performance art works on-line. AVAA is the only on-line data bank of Australian video art and performance works. This project will investigate a new documentary project in which the capabilities of the AVAA will be extended by utilising the dynamic potential of annotated video data. The key objectives of the project are:

• To investigate a more appropriate form of dissemination that allows the ‘reader’ to view the actual video art works alongside a discussion of that work. This research interprets traditional forms such as the monograph or video documentary through an interactive virtual environment.
• To extend our pilot program on Australian video and performance art by utilising the unique qualities of an on-line delivery of information through video, sound and text within a non-linear format.
• To annotate the video interviews with text-based source documents, texts and articles.
• To highlight important Australian artists who have made a significant contribution to visual arts culture and to create links between their work and historical visual art movements, genres and styles through discussion and textual information. This will not only contribute critical knowledge in the area of contemporary art on key video artists it will also fill a gap in scholarship.
• To digitise material in the appropriate format for on-line delivery and archiving.
• Enable participation of Monash researchers in international consortia.
• Bringing Australian material to the world will significantly improve the reception of our culture as innovative and experimental.

Rather than delivering this information in a linear fashion the videos about each artist will be available as separate ‘bites’ of information each with annotated textual information drawn from source documents. This will provide the user with a dynamic environment where they can establish information links and thus generate new ways of articulating the artwork at hand. The website will establish itself as the research hub for the cultural industry and educational institutions in relation to video and performance art. It will position Monash University as a leader in on-line research infrastructure in the field of contemporary arts. The researchers have met with key organizations in the field to discuss potential collaborations and cross fertilisation. These networks will assist in promoting Monash University nationally and internationally. It it also hoped that it will serve as an exemplar of e-Research in the Humanties and Creative arts disciplines