• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
• /
• no.22
• /
• pp.371-411
• /
• 2011

In the twenty first century of rapid cultural change performing art requires new mode of expression based on imaginative power and creativity as well as establishing its own identity. The modern technological environment support this with advanced technology and bring about the expansion of reason from new experience. The introduction of digital media on artistic expression in particular, expands the physical ability of human body which is the main subject of performing art. A virtual body from digital technology is freed from physical boundaries and goes over space and time. It also suggests the possibility of new mode of communication with audience. This study aims at examining the subject of performing art and its digitalized movement focusing on EveR, the world's first professional robot actor. The robot actor which came on stage according to the new expression medium, a digital body, stands in need not only of technological value but also of cultural and artistic application for expression in art. In this endeavor to meet the demand, this study examines the development process and function of 'EveR' the robot actor. Also it searches into the performance of Ever which replaced human being as well as the historical significance of the title:the world's first. To be more specific, there is a example research on two performances:a pansori play "EveR is simply stunning(2009)" and children's play "The Robot Princess and Seven Dwarfs(2009)." Through this example research, it is enabled to anticipate the influence of robot actors on performing arts and to search for the better way of them to evolve. Furthermore, it aims at finding ways to create high value through promoting robot actors to be familiar to the public as well as supporting them to become active cultural contents. The performance with robotic technology is one of the artistic experiment that may cause the change of the future of performing art by actualizing technological imagination together with human body and machinery. As a consequence, it is expected that the meeting of performing art and robotic technology gives positive influence on activating performing art as one of the integrated cultural phenomenon which satisfies the taste of modern era. Moreover, this study may also be the beginning of the expansion of performing art to stretch to diverse field.