Look, Ma – No Hands: The Early Days of Biofeedback Art

Screening of Historical Footage (1960-1990s) and A Demo with Heartbeat-controlled Drum Machine

The biofeedback film & video screening offers a unique insight into the intersection of technology, art, and human physiology during this pivotal period in history. Through biofeedback, artists could tap into the body’s physiological responses, such as heart rate and brain activity, to create immersive and participatory aesthetic experiences. By showcasing a collection of works from the 1960s to the 1990s, this retrospective provides a comprehensive look at how technological advancements led to a diversification of artistic applications of biofeedback and the emergence of new “hybrid” art-science practices. The material presented in this screening includes works of Alvin Lucier, Nina Sobell, Bill and Lois Etra, Richard Lowenberg, and other pioneers of biomusic and video art, also highlighting the contribution of the Bay Area artists and engineers in early biofeedback art and development of human-computer music interfaces.

The screening will be accompanied by a demo presented by Kal Spelletich, inviting two volunteers in attendance to “play” a drum machine with the beat of their heart.