Arts-focused Freelance Creative Technologist
Ben Neal
"always at the cutting edge of technology, education and arts practice"
- Andrew Pearsall (BCU)
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Papa November
As Your Wave Is Refracted
Visit WebsiteVisit Website
2020

This simple interactive music video allows users to touch and deform a shiny 3D shape in time to music written by Papa November as an experimental approach to music video. Created as an Android phone app, it was also used to create a music video for the artist.

Available to download from Itch.io from the link below.

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Gareth Proskourine-Barnett
Concrete
www.g-p-b.studioVisit Website
2019

A 3D scanned block of concrete taken from the ruined Library of Birmingham was spun in 3D space, while virtual oil was poured over it at timed intervals. The streams of oil were affected by realtime stockmarket oil price changes scraped from the Internet.

Shown at New Art Gallery, Walsall

  • Swoomptheeng-Tha Daance Maast-0
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Swoomptheeng
Tha Daance Maast
www.swoomptheeng.comVisit Website
2017-2018

A digital maypole and pop-up soundsystem was created - complete with custom beat sequencing software, audio effects and wooden, hand-held music controllers. 8 glowing, animated, LED strands flow from the top of the mast, displaying visual feedback in time to the music and decorating the pole. Audience members stand in a circle and hold controllers with strange 3D printed sliders and buttons which they use to play music. The entire unit retracts to become a travel case and houses 2 small PA systems.

Shown at Ikon Gallery, Flatpack Festival, Random String Festival, Dead Shrines, Touchbase Pears

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"always at the cutting edge of technology, education and arts practice"
- Andrew Pearsall (Birmingham City University)
"continually exceeded my original design brief"
- Tony Coleman, VJ (TheLAB)
"expert advice and solutions"
- Shayal Chhibber, PHD student
"easy to communicate with, very creative, extremely reliable...
good value for money"
- Dr. C. Samantha Porter (Loughborough University)
"a talented and consummate creative force, and a pleasure to work with'"
- Shaun Kelly, Musician (The Lights)
"passion & enthusiasm for projects & challenges...
an invaluable contact"
- Charlie Levine, Arts Curator
"understands... no matter how bizarre or impossible the task"
- Nat Pitt, Gallery Owner (Pitt Studio)
"...an extremely talented, versatile creative ...very proficient..."
- Matt Robinson, Artist (Jin Pow)
"made it possible ...thanks to his computer wizardry."
- Will Parker, Artist (World of Parker)
"stretching the boundries of what most people could conceive"
- Matthew Rowley, Associate
"very genuine passion about the work and the final product"
- Ria Butler, Manager (Eastern Garden)
"excellent creative input to improve on the original prototype"
- Matthew Head, PHD Student
"understood exactly what I needed."
- Sandra Graham, Artist
"we love working with him!"
- Louise Latter, Head of Programme (Birmingham Open Media)
"Creative and considered approach to multiple unknown challenges"
- Halina Dominska, Artist
"I'm consistently amazed by Ben's breadth of knowledge
and knack for finding creative solutions."
- Edie Jo Murray, Artist
"we have had lots of different art and tech opportunities
and we really have this first experience working with Ben to thank for that"
- Anna Horton, Artist (One Five West)
"great to collaborate with, creating some really inspiring work"
- Oliver Scott, Mercurial Dance
"His combination of artistic and technical skills are unique"
- John Sear, Real-World Game Designer (Museum Games)
"A fantastic collaborator. I recommend him highly"
- Kerryn Wise, Digital Dance Artist
"extremely professional to work with
- he made the complexities of technology clearly understandable"
- Chris Poolman, Artist (General Public)
"no matter how far it pushes the imagination - Ben can make it happen"
- Harmeet Chagger-Khan, Artist
"he creates magic"
- Seraina Dejaco, Dancer
"a creative, super-technician and natural educator we have enjoyed working with him over many years"
- Matt Hogan, Head of Operations (Ikon Gallery)
"an extremely knowledgeable artist and creative technologist, who went above and beyond our expectations
- Karolina Korupczynska (Stryx Gallery)
"his work is consistently a joy!"
- Nick Murray, Producer (Now Play This)
"responsive and generous with his skills and ideas.
He's always keen to innovate and push the limits"
- Sarah Martindale (Mixed Reality Lab, Nottingham University)
"The final work was fantastic... not only due to Ben's digital skills but to the time and commitment put into ensuring the work was high quality."
- Nick Slater(LU Arts)
"a very impressive problem solver...
caring and professional commitment to the project"
- Tyrone Huggins (Actor)
"Ben combines creativity and technical proficiency...
to get the best out of any idea."
- Baff Akoto (Artist)