The Gallery and wiki Space
The Gallery Space and wiki Space
Entering my exhibition space a visitor is presented with six images and a computer terminal. Five of the images are hybrids of paintings and digital prints. The sixth is a projection of the contents of the computer screen. The computer sits on a desk and is connected to the internet. Upon inspection of the five images, one of the things a viewer could perceive within the images is a website address. This internet address is of a wiki website. Depending on past interactions with the computer, the internet will (by request rather than physical/digital restrictions) be viewing this wiki site. Therefore the sixth image, the projection, will be of this wiki website.
A printed sheet will be available for people to pick up, which is a print out of the wiki in its initial state at the start of the exhibition. Within this printed sheet will be a written explanation that will describe the nature of a wiki for visitors that do not know. Part of the written explanation will also highlight how one could participate and collaborate on the content of that wiki. The printed sheet/initial wiki, will also contain a description of my own perception of the hybrid paintings and prints.
In this way the show will attempt to engender a sense of participation where people can freely respond to the ‘questions’ within the work and contribute to the wiki.
There is a sense of performance and direct interactivity in the work, as it will entail them sitting down in the exhibition and editing the written content of the wiki as the projected image changes in real time. Of course people may chose not to physically engage in this process, but I hope the understanding that they can, will ‘challenge’ people to consider a number of implications.
One of the implications that interests me, is the effect the changes to the wiki will have over peoples perception of the five images that contain the wiki website address. Something highlighted in the show by the large scale projection of the wiki site. Central to this is the relationship between words and images. A relationship that, in my work, is played out through; the symbols that are embedded in the images, an internet address that is used as an interface over the images, and the words online that these two things point to. (See ‘An Image with a Story’ below)
All of the images in the show will be for sale. The images are printed on canvas and the prints on fine art paper, therefore encouraging the perception that the images are traditional fine art commodities. The gallery hence functions as a market place, a space where artists can make a living selling their work. In this context do the contents of the website become more relevant? From one perspective, this is a question about how integrated an individual’s life is with digital technology; to what extent will the contents of the wiki site effect an individual if they take one of the images out of the show and hang it up in their homes? Will they check the wiki to see how it changes?
Entering my exhibition space a visitor is presented with six images and a computer terminal. Five of the images are hybrids of paintings and digital prints. The sixth is a projection of the contents of the computer screen. The computer sits on a desk and is connected to the internet. Upon inspection of the five images, one of the things a viewer could perceive within the images is a website address. This internet address is of a wiki website. Depending on past interactions with the computer, the internet will (by request rather than physical/digital restrictions) be viewing this wiki site. Therefore the sixth image, the projection, will be of this wiki website.
A printed sheet will be available for people to pick up, which is a print out of the wiki in its initial state at the start of the exhibition. Within this printed sheet will be a written explanation that will describe the nature of a wiki for visitors that do not know. Part of the written explanation will also highlight how one could participate and collaborate on the content of that wiki. The printed sheet/initial wiki, will also contain a description of my own perception of the hybrid paintings and prints.
In this way the show will attempt to engender a sense of participation where people can freely respond to the ‘questions’ within the work and contribute to the wiki.
There is a sense of performance and direct interactivity in the work, as it will entail them sitting down in the exhibition and editing the written content of the wiki as the projected image changes in real time. Of course people may chose not to physically engage in this process, but I hope the understanding that they can, will ‘challenge’ people to consider a number of implications.
One of the implications that interests me, is the effect the changes to the wiki will have over peoples perception of the five images that contain the wiki website address. Something highlighted in the show by the large scale projection of the wiki site. Central to this is the relationship between words and images. A relationship that, in my work, is played out through; the symbols that are embedded in the images, an internet address that is used as an interface over the images, and the words online that these two things point to. (See ‘An Image with a Story’ below)
All of the images in the show will be for sale. The images are printed on canvas and the prints on fine art paper, therefore encouraging the perception that the images are traditional fine art commodities. The gallery hence functions as a market place, a space where artists can make a living selling their work. In this context do the contents of the website become more relevant? From one perspective, this is a question about how integrated an individual’s life is with digital technology; to what extent will the contents of the wiki site effect an individual if they take one of the images out of the show and hang it up in their homes? Will they check the wiki to see how it changes?
posted by Joshua Davidson at 4:21 PM
3 Comments:
I'm sure you will get some great responses from the people who have visited your show, and indeed those who have viewed the website.
From a 'non-artist' perspective your artwork has certainly made me think about the importance of having story behind your work. It makes the pieces so much more meaningful to the owner as well as the creator.
Your work has also got my thinking a bit more creatively - I am thinking of ideas for a short decision making game which without your work I would never had done.
There is a huge scope for this project to expand, and we all hope it does mate.
Sco
Thank you Andrew, you make an excellent point. The scope for the story city expanding is huge. In the next few weeks I will put a
new option up on the website in the next few weeks that makes it even easier to get involved. Start thinking about a short story or a painting or both! Then I will put it in the database, and if you want I can turn it into a larger painting. available free online to use as a desktop or whatever, or as an artist original.
Josh
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