Audio visual instrument

I am interested in playable audio and visual instrumental work. It could be tangible, or either screen-based.

I like listening to music because it relaxes me from all the tension I was having before, and fills up my emotion. Music makes a space of vibration, which I can feel as the energy to my heartbeat.

I like to listen to music but I am afraid to make music because I have not played any instrument for a long time. But the following works makes people enjoy playing with music. Also it gives a different interpretation on the forms and texture and movement of every-day objects.






Reactable
(shown in sigraph 2006)
http://mtg.upf.es/reactable/

This is a table and some blocks as an audio and visual instrument. The shape, location of the blocks make a different sound and it relates with other objects near around. The team is composed of 1 computer major, 2 music and technology major, and 1 graphic major. Who will going to use this and where it will going to be shown will make this project shown differently. It could be just a fun toy for the visitors whom will be playing with it for few minutes, but it could be an instrument for live performance for the musicians whom would be practicing with it for over a couple of days. There are several other videos of peformace with this table, and I think the music from the Berlin show is the best, because the creators of these projects whom are musicians as well did the live performance at that show. This is the Berlin show at the following link bellow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm_FzLya8y4







Interstitial Fragment Processor
by Golan Levin
This work induces the audience to make some movements to make sound and express themselves. The camera catches the visitor's shape and find a closed shape. When that shape is opened, then that shape becomes an object and fall to the ground, making a sound. The sound changes according to the size of the shape. Even though it is not easy to make the sound that they want, it will be enjoyable to see, move, and listen to the outputs. People can collaborate to make larger bodies.

http://flong.com/projects/ifp/






Sound of Touch
by Hayes Raffle
This is a good example of how to relate movement and texture with sound.
This guy put a recorder and a player with a sensor on objects and made an instrument out of it. You first record the sound and then start hitting or moving the object. The sound will start to vibrate or start and stop playing, or change its speed according to how the object is manipulated. The object and the sound is flexible. The objects he created is like an instrument I have never thought before. This guy was studying sculpture as his undergraduate study. Maybe that is how he has good sense of shape and texture.

http://www.rafelandia.com/sound%20of%20touch/video.html




These projects above are audio/visual projects and relate sound with visual shapes, texture, movements, and location.
It is fun but makes me question of what is art and how to value them. It is an open project, and like an instrument for performance. Then, will the performance would be art or the artwork itself could be the art?Are they artist or a designer and developer of tools? What will make the difference for these works to be shown in a gallery space and a bar or a party? Or is it OK just to take a home video and stream it with internet to the audience?
I think I should think and set up a new criteria on what is art before I start.