THE LAST GUN (2012)
The Last Gun is a mechano-robotic flute built out of a disabled shotgun and salvaged industrial components. The gun barrels have been transformed into aĀ double-flute, which is played by compressed air. The mechanics are programmed and controlled through open-source electronicsĀ using an Arduino microprocessor andĀ a Raspberry Pi board.Ā
The installationĀ graphically charts and then musically depicts the rise & fall of annual U.S. arms exports. The fluteās aural response is based upon a value judgment. It is programmed to play a somber melody for every rise in arms exports and an upbeat tune for every year the arms exports drop.
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Ā©Ā 2012 Constantine Zlatev
COLLABORATORSĀ
Kostadin Ilov is a computer engineer and a systems administrator at UC Berkeley. He earned his Masterās degree in Computer Engineering at the Technical University of Sofia. He enjoys working with artists and solving the programming challenges of Constantineās mechano-robotic installations.Ā
Velina Ruseva is a professional pianist and a music teacher and wrote the musical notes for the mechano-robotic flute installations. She received her Bachelorās degree from the Conservatory of Music in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and earned her Masterās degree from Veliko Turnovo University. Her love of music and geeky sense of adventure has led her beyond the bounds of the traditional and she greatly enjoys writing music for such experimental instruments.Ā
