Illusion: An Instrument Propelled by the Mind

Abstract

This thesis describes Illusion, a performance-based sound installation that explores the mind's obscurity employing brain-computer interfaces. The doctoral study investigates the correlation between the human mind and brain waves through interdisciplinary research encompassing neuroscience, computer science, philosophy of mind, and early experimental arts. Furthermore, it presents an audio-visual system that enables both real-time performance and sound installation by simultaneously manipulating images and sounds by selecting particular brain waves. This study results in creating artworks and engaging the public with the new brain-computer interface variant. This project creates art by designing artistic representation instruments using the brain-computer interface, a direct communication channel between the human brain and the machine. It advocates a neurologic view of the correlation between the human mind and brain waves and pursues Cybernetics’ ideal, the co-evolution of humans and machines. Human beings and machines' mutual prosperity through art creation also inherits the vision of early experimental artists who attempted to converge art-oriented science and technology.