Diamandini Revisited 2024: In Conversation

Robotic Commission by Mari Velonaki

Diamandini, a sculpture-like humanoid robot is visiting NCM, equipped with new capabilities. Originally created between 2011 and 2012, Diamandini is now programmed with an enhanced sonic presence, allowing her to engage in a unique interaction with ‘George,’ the voice of the Speaking Clock. As she explores her surroundings, the robot's custom-built electronics, omnidirectional motion platform, and distributed sound system create a dialogue between these two technologies.

This temporary intervention explores the interaction possibilities between old and new technologies, experimenting with the potential of human-machine and machine-machine interaction.

Mari Velonaki’s research is situated in the multi-disciplinary field of Social Robotics. Her approach to Social Robotics’ research has been informed by aesthetics and design principles that stem from the theory and practice of Interactive Media Art. Velonaki has made significant contributions in the areas of Social Robotics, Media Art and Human-Machine Interface Design. Her career outputs across these fields are extensive. Velonaki began working as a media artist/researcher in the field of responsive environments and interactive interface design in 1997. She pioneered experimental interfaces that incorporate movement, speech, touch, breath, electrostatic charge, artificial vision and robotics, allowing for the development of haptic and immersive relationships between participants and interactive agents. She is the recipient of several competitive grants, including ARC Discovery, Linkage, LIEF an ARC Fellowship, an Australia Council of the Arts, Visual Arts Fellowship, Australia-Japan Foundation, Fuji Xerox Innovation, AOARD.

Velonaki is a Professor of Social Robotics at Art & Design, UNSW. She is the founder and director of the Creative Robotics Lab (Art & Design UNSW) and the founder and director of the National Facility for Human Robot Interaction Research (UNSW, USYD, UTS, St Vincent’s Hospital).

Mari’s robots and interactive installations have been exhibited worldwide, including: Victoria & Albert Museum, London; National Art Museum Beijing; Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Korea; Aros Aarhus Museum of Modern Art, Denmark; Wood Street Galleries, Pittsburgh; Millennium Museum - Beijing Biennale of Electronic Arts; Ars Electronica, Linz; European Media Arts Festival, Osnabruck; ZENDAI Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai; Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Arts, Sydney; Conde Duque Museum, Madrid.

• Frederic Robinson: Sound design & composition
• David Rye: Mechatronic systems design & integration
• Ethan Jones: Software development & sound/movement integration
• Marc Katzef: Hardware & software development
• Jorge Forseck Rauh Hain: Vision system & testing
• Michael Blake: Sound system & arm prototyping
• Alex Davies: Sound integration advisor
• Mark Calleija: Omnidirectional motion platform design
• Sin Wong: Dress design

• National Communication Museum
• Australia Research Council
• UNSW Creative Robotics Lab & National Facility for Human Robot Interaction Research, UNSW
• Australian Centre for Field Robotics, USYD