Ange

Ange is a musical interface, which by nature of its design invites reflection upon the idea of “playing” the body.

The design is inspired by an 18th century medical engraving and women’s corsetry throughout the ages. The engraving, Ange Anatomic by Jacques Fabien Gauthier d’Agoty, is of a woman whose back has been flayed, exposing the musculature and bone structure and creating the suggestion of wings. Ange incorporates this form into a wearable piece of custom-made corsetry.

Using electronic sensors to make the rib cage “playable” (i.e. enabling the player’s touch to trigger and manipulate sound samples and tones), Ange allows the user to metaphorically touch and “play” the body of the wearer.

sound design : tara creme

publication:

• Wilde, D., Birkmayer, S. Dress and Ange: coercing the address of highly personal body-centric issues. (588kb). Personal and Ubiquitous Computing (2004) 8: 264–273 DOI 10.1007/s00779-004-0287-6.

©danielle wilde and tara creme 2003