Computer vision in contemporary art (introduction to the special session)

Contemporary art nowadays tries to exploit modern technology to better address and enlighten specific problems and ideas of our time. Our interest in wider impact of modern technology on society and the interest in contemporary art, brought our attention also to the applicative field of use of computer vision methods in art. The paper walks us through a few projects, proving that art is definitely a perfect testbed for our research: 15 seconds of fame, virtual skiing, dynamic anamorphosis and virtual painter, from face detection, motion following, depth recovery, touchless human-computer interaction to pop-art, constant eye gaze of a person on the portrait, regardless of where the spectator stands, immersion into different virtual worlds without the need for any special equipment.