Flo Ortkrass

Flo Ortkrass

Founder Random InternationalLondon, United Kingdom
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Flo Ortkrass

Flo Ortkrass

Founder Random InternationalLondon, United Kingdom
About me
rAndom create artworks and installations that explore behaviour and interaction, often using light and movement. Founded in 2005 by Stuart Wood, Florian Ortkrass and Hannes Koch, the studio utilises raw fragments of artificial intelligence to encourage relationships between the converging worlds of animate and inanimate. The studio is based in a converted warehouse in Chelsea, London and today includes a growing team of diverse talent. Selected projects created by rAndom are represented by Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London, Galerie Volker Diehl in Berlin. Exhibitions (selected) Rain Room EXPO 1 at MoMA, NYC 12 May 2013 to 28 July 2013 Rain Room The Curve, Barbican, London – 4 October 2012 to 3 March 2013 British Design 1948–2012: Innovation in the Modern Age V&A, London – 31 March to 12 August 2012 4th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art ARTPLAY, Moscow – October 2011 The Behaviour Of Objects Carpenters Workshop Gallery, London – October 2010 Designers of the Future Design Miami / Basel – June 2010 Decode: Digital Design Sensations Victoria & Albert Museum, London – 7 December 2009 to 12 April 2010 Pinakothek Der Moderne International Design Museum, Munich – 11 November 2009 to 8 February Telling Tales Victoria & Albert Museum, London – July 2009 Collections Museum of Modern art New York Private collection (US) Victoria & Albert Museum, London Publications (selected) 21 Designers for twenty first century Britain by Gareth Williams V&A Publishing ( 2012) A Touch of Code edited by Robert Klanten, Lukas Feireiss & Sven Ehmann Die Gestalten Verlag (2010) Staging Space edited by Robert Klanten, Lukas Feireiss & Sven Ehmann Die Gestalten Verlag (2010)
Projects
  • DUPLEX
    DUPLEX‘Duplex’ is comprised of numerous fluorescent tubes salvaged from Bloomberg computer screens. The tubes’ capacity to display information is re-interpreted to animatedly reflect the silhouettes of those moving past the installation. Originally created for Bloomberg’s 2011 ‘Waste Not , Want It’ exhibition, the installation tracked the movements of those ascending and descending an escalator, presenting them with an illuminated representation of their own moving stance and gesture. ‘Duplex’ reveals
  • FLY
    FLY'Fly’ studies the movement of objects and insects within a confined space. An abstract representation of a fly is held captive inside a glass box, centrally ensnared by eight cables. The behaviour of this ‘fly’ is controlled by a unique and autonomous algorithm, accurately simultating the observed behaviour of real flies. The ‘fly’ has the freedom to move anywhere within its box, but lacks spatial reference. rAndom has applied this pattern of movement to an inanimate object, as though it were trapped beneath a watch-glass; exploring not only the behaviour of objects but also that of humans. When the ‘fly’ senses the presence of a person at its perimeter, it changes the demeanour of its flight in response. This continuing physical interplay of action and reaction can offer a new perspective to our own behaviour, its effects and apparent freedom, in the current age. ‘Fly’ premiered at the 4th Moscow Biennial of Contemporary Art, curated by Peter Weibel.
  • STUDY OF YOU
    STUDY OF YOUAssuming the form of a faceted, full-length looking glass, ‘Study of You’ is composed of numerous OLEDs (organic light emitting diodes). As you approach the installation, the movement causes it to reflect your image and gesture , which then slowly dissolves further and further into luminescence.’Study of You’ made its debut at the Abu Dhabi Art Fair in 2011.
  • FUTURE SELF
    FUTURE SELF"Future Self’ studies human movement; what it can reveal about identity and the relationship we have with our own image. The installation captures movement in light creating a three dimensional, ‘living’ sculpture from the composite gestures of those who surround it. Viewers are bound together –in the moment– as an ethereal, illuminated presence. Making its premier through performance, commissioned and supported by MADE, ‘Future Self’ has been extensively explored in a new contemporary dance piece choreographed by Wayne McGregor and scored by Max Richter in response to the installation.
  • TOWER: INSTANT STRUCTURE FOR SCHACHT XII
    TOWER: INSTANT STRUCTURE FOR SCHACHT XIIKnown for their experimental installations that explore natural phenomena, London based studio Random International have created a monumental, performative structure at World Heritage Zollverein using its plentiful, native material: water (6 million cubic metres of which have to be pumped out of the former mines every year to warrant the structural integrity of the entire region). Random cycle almost 30,000 litres of water per minute to create a monolithic form, an ephemeral tower that appears and disappears instantaneously. The sound of the falling drops is intensely loud and a sensation of moisture lingers in the air. Through the senses, Tower explores possibilities for engagement with, and access to, an historic, industrial space on a scale that had not originally been intended for human / social use. In sharp contrast to the solid and static architecture of Zeche Zollverein, the ‘simulated structure’ of Tower is transient, its watery presence a temporary spectre. By bringing such large quantities of water into the controlled form of a building, Random International investigate if a structural purpose can wrought upon this otherwise chaotic element. The architecture of the space becomes performative, inviting those within it to experience the water of Zeche Zollverein in a uniquely physical and intimate way (and get absolutely soaked in the process).
  • SWARM STUDY VI / SMALL SWARM
    SWARM STUDY VI / SMALL SWARMRandom International’s Swarm Study series is an ongoing exploration of collective behaviour — a sustained interest of the studio since its inception. The installations simulate swarming behaviour three dimensionally, through movement and light. The illuminated ‘swarm’ responds to the presence of those within its vicinity, inhabiting the spatial sphere autonomously, as though it were a living thing. The latest installation in the series, Swarm Study VI / Small Swarm invites a more immediate engagement, through the intimacy of scale and structure, than the studio has previously experimented with.
Work history
    Random International logo
    Random International logo
    Artist & DirectorRandom International
    Here at rAndom, an artistic enterprise which I founded and lead together with Stuart Wood and Hannes Koch I am responsible for: - Planning and Design - Integration of electronic and electric components - PM - Budgeting - Build Supervision - Site Integration - Install Supervision and Organisation and jointly responsible for: - Artistic Direction - Ideas and Concepts - Strategy - Client Communication - Supplier Communication - R&D - HR - Finances
    Associated Tutor Platform 8
     - 
    Critique and guidance to Design Product students in their 1st and final year of studies towards their MA together with Hannes Koch, Stuart Wood and Platform 8 lead tutor Gabi Klasmer.
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Skills
  • Furniture
  • Art Direction
  • Museums
  • Project Management
  • Sketching
  • Industrial Design
  • Product Design
  • Concept Development
  • Design Research
  • Design Thinking
  • Art Exhibitions
  • Concept Generation
  • Contemporary art
  • French
Education
    MA Design Products
     - 
    Industrial Design Engineering
     - 
    Industrial Design Engineering (BSc 1st Hons), Designing with SMPs
Awards
    Designer of the Future award
    Prix Ars Electronica
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