Brainloop is an interactive performance platform that utilizes a Brain Computer Interface (BCI) system which allows a subject to operate devices merely by imagining specific motor commands. These mentally visualized commands may be seen as the rehearsal of a motor act without the overt motor output; a neural synapse occurs but the actual movement is blocked at the corticospinal level. Motor imagery such as "move left hand", "move right hand" or "move feet" become non-muscular communication and control signals that convey messages and commands to the external world. In Brainloop the performer is able - without physically moving - to investigate urban areas and rural landscapes as he globe-trots around virtual Google Earth. Through motor imagery, he selects locations, camera angles and positions and records these image sequences in a virtual world. In the second half of the performance, he plays back the sequence and uses Brainloop to compose a custom soundtrack by selecting, manipulating and re-locating audio recordings in real time into the physical space.

Janez Janša is a conceptual artist, performer and producer graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts of Milan, Italy. His work has a strong social connotation and is characterized by an inter-media approach. He is co-founder and director of Aksioma – Institute for Contemporary Art, Ljubljana. His first public artistic project was the urban installation “I Need Money to Be an Artist”, which was presented first in Ljubljana, Slovenia (1996) and then in Venice, Italy. Between 2004-2007 he leaded the project “Brainloop”, an interactive performance platform which allows a subject to navigate a virtual space merely by imagining specific motor commands. Janez Janša is co-editor with Ivana Ivković of the textual and pictorial reader “DemoKino – Virtual Biopolitical Agora” published by Maska and Aksioma in 2005, of the book “NAME – Readymade” published by Moderna galerija / Museum of Modern Art Ljubljana in 2008, and of “RE:akt! – Reconstruction, Re-enactment, Re-reporting” in 2009.

This work results from a multi-year collaboration between Slovenian media artists and Austrian scientists. Its author is the Slovenian media artist Janez Janša. Responsible for the BCI application is Reinhold Scherer from the BCI-Lab of the TUG. Brainloop has been awarded with the ARCO/BEEP Electronic Art Prize (category Off-ARCO) at ARCO 07, Madrid, Spain.

Saturday at Peek&Poke, start at 20:00h. Welcome!

The DOK-ING XD is a small Croatian three-seat electric city concept car created by DOK-ING. The name XD comes from oddly shaped rear lights ("X" shaped) and "D" beginning letter of the company's name. XD can travel over 250 km on a single charge with lithium iron phosphate batteries. The car has a low drag coefficient factor of only 0.35. Other features include 360 degree airbags, an integrated safety system for electric stability, ABS brakes and power steering. The XD can also go from 0–100 km in 7.7 seconds. Currently, the only planned non-Croatian part will be the 32 kWh battery which can go for 200-250 kilometers with a charge time of between three and eight hours. The first prototype was completed at the beginning of 2010 and serial production is predicted to start in 2011. DOK-ING exhibited the car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.

We are presenting it to the public today in the central pedestrian area in Rijeka - stop by and check ti out!

This Thursday (July 1st) starting at 10PM in Jazz Bar Tunel you can see the performance of the legendary musucian Janko Nilović who is living and working in Paris for 50 years now. last.fm says:

"Janko Nilovic is a pianist, poet and composer extraordinaire from Montenegro who has lived in France since 1960. He is one of those musicians who devote themselves to music fanatically. This resulted in a great number of published works, but most of them are on library labels not available for sale. His opus stretches from Classical, Jazz and Funk to Pop, Psyche and Easy Listening. He touches all these styles in a characteristic way. Nilovic - poet as well as musician - creates poetic musical images by bending the edges of styles, cross-pollinating them. Janko recorded many albums for the MONTPARNASSE 2000 library label which specializes in music for Radio and T.V., musical illustrators and Film Music clubs."

See you there!

Vocal group Perpetuum Jazzile, conducted by its artistic director Tomaž Kozlevčar is the only Slovenian jazz choir, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Its repertoire consists of an ear-catching selection of vocal jazz and pop. The stylistically wide a cappella repertoire of Perpetuum Jazzile, sometimes accompanied by a jazz trio, ranges from the Brazilian bossa nova, swing and close harmony style to styles more closely connected to jazz - funk, gospel and pop. Make sure you don't miss the opportunity to see them perform in Rijeka on May 28th. Their performance will mark the start of our "2010" event that will span over several weeks. The tickets will be on sale from 1st of May, but considering the limited seats available, we recommend that you make an advance reservation either personally in PEEK&POKE or over the phone at 051/680770). The ticket price is 80 kuna (~11 EUR) - more information to follow!

Recently we acquired the oldest item yet - a mechanical calculator from year 1914!

Photo: Luciano Bibulić