Notes on Location of I

Art and the Internet, Joanne McNeill and Domenico Quaranta

art and the internet Joanne McNeill Domenico Quaranta

Location of I and I Wanted to See All the News From Today featured in the forthcoming book Art and the Internet by Joanne McNeill and Domenico Quaranta.

Art and the Internet is a much-needed visual survey of art influenced by, situated on and taking the subject of the internet over the last two and a half decades. From the early 1990s the internet has had multiple roles in art, not least in defining several new genres of practitioners, from early networked art to new forms of interactive and participatory works, but also because it is the great aggregator of all art, past and present. Art and the Internet examines the legacy of the internet on art, and, importantly, illuminates how artists and institutions are using it and why.

Black Dog Publishing, August 2013
Paperback, 240 pages, 300 b/w and colour ills, 280 x 230 mm
ISBN 9781907317989

Bridging Boundaries: Where Physical meets Virtual (2011)

Bridging Boundaries: Where Physical meets Virtual (2011)
Rhizome Curated Exhibition by fforster

As technology advances, the idea of the virtual and physical worlds being separate entities is becoming indistinct. This exhibition challenges the concepts of the two worlds and displays six pieces of art that cross these increasingly blurred boundaries.

While Chris Sugrue’s ‘Delicate Boundaries’ explores the visual aspect of crossing the boundaries, creating digital creatures that move through the computer screen becoming a part of the physical world, Aleksandar Macasev’s ‘Kontrola’ aimed to create a virus which could affect the virtual and the physical. Macasev claimed that the common denominator between a computer and a human is language, and he therefore made the linguistic Kontrola virus. Both of these artists’s works show how vague the separation of the two worlds is becoming, depicting how easy it is for something virtual to affect the physical too.

Both Tom Forkin, in ‘Body Extension’, and Martin John Callanan, in ‘Location of I’, have placed themselves into the virtual world. Through copying a part of himself onto the internet Forkin conceptually creates a body extension in the ‘other world’ he seems to straddle the line becoming both virtual and physical. Callanan also straddles the line, calling himself the ‘absolute citizen’, through uploading his physical location onto the internet continuously he has made himself a digital citizen. However through bridging this divide he has made himself vulnerable. Callanan’s piece describes not only how simple it is to cross that barrier, but the effects crossing the barrier has. Callanan seems isolated whether in a city like Dublin or desert in Morocco due to his marker being the only marker, making him seem the only citizen.

The final two pieces in the exhibition show examples of ways in which the virtual and the physical worlds interact but how influential the divide still is. In Pappenheimer’s piece ‘Breath on me’ he created an exhibition that was both online and physical. Online viewers had control of the webcams that were set up in the physical space, above each webcam was fixed a fan and in effect the online participants could ‘breath’, or fan air, at the physical visitors within the installation. Through this Pappenheimer enables communication, in the form of breath, between the two worlds. Along a similar idea, Karolina Sobecka’s piece ‘Sniff’ challenges the boundary of the two worlds through the ability for the human form to communicate with the digital animal. However the boundary is still evident due to the dog’s inability to cross through the wall it is projected onto. Although the dog still forms a relationship with the human, the divide is still apparent and tangible.

The World in 100 Years (Location of I)

The World in 100 Years
Ars Electronica Center, Linz, Austria
June 16th – September 19th 2010

“Everyone will have his own pocket telephone that will enable him to get in touch with anyone he wishes. People living in the Wireless Age will be able to go everywhere with their transceivers, which they will be able to affix wherever they like— to their hat, for instance …“
Robert Sloss: “The Wireless Century,” in: “The World in 100 Years,” Berlin, 1910

The new exhibition in the Ars Electronica Center Linz pays tribute to the creativity, courage and inventiveness of those men and women who have totally committed their energies, abilities and knowledge to a vision of the future. This exhibition surveys a 200-year time span: looking back at what people about a century ago anticipated for this day and age, and showcasing what contemporary thinkers foresee 100 years from now.

As proxies standing for all the visionaries and trailblazers who have worked on their respective „futures“ over the course of humankind‘s history, French writer, illustrator and caricaturist Albert Robida (1848–1926) and Belgian visionary Paul Otlet (1868–1944) occupy this exhibition‘s spotlight.

Bruce Herr, Katy Borner (USA), Wikipedia Visualization
Marjolin Dijkman (BE, NL), Wandering through the Future
Frederik De Wilde (BE), Hostage
Bruce Baikie (USA), Intelligent Solar Powered 3G-WiFi Broadband Access
Hans Frei (CH), Marc Böhlen (USA), Micro Public Places
Teresa Maria Buscemi (USA), electroStatic Architecture
Catherine Kramer (UK), Community Meat Lab
Ken Banks (UK), Frontline SMS
Open Sailing Crew with Cesar Harada (UK), Open Sailing
Tatsuya Narita (JP), Toaster to understand today’s weather
Doug Fritz (USA), Sajid Sadi (USA), Engaze
Brigitte Hadlich (DE), c.50p – 50. Breitengrad
Jonas Burki (CH), Sun_D
Takayuki Nakamura (JP), Wonderful World
Josh Schiller, James Tunick, Carrie Elston (USA), City of the Future
Martin John Callanan (UK), Location of I
Himanshu Khatri (IN), Aquaplay
shiftspace.org (USA). ShiftSpace
Martin Mairinger (AT), USED Clothing
Akio Kamisato, Satoshi Shibata, Takehisa Mashimo (JP), Moony

Презентацију пројекта „Ризом града” (Location of I)

05.07.2010. у 19 часова у Mузеју науке и технике у Београду

Пројекат „Ризом града” представља естетизацију дигиталног уобличавања просторне мреже културног идентитета града Београда. Аутори и учесници пројекта истражују и приказују урбани идентитет кроз субјективно поимање структуре града. Стварањем индивидуалног осећаја простора, на одређеним културолошким пунковима у Београду, уметници трансформишу урбане пејзаже у сплет уметничких, естетских, психолошких, политичких и географских разлика и постављају их у виртуелну мапу света Google Earth. Они формирају базу података – културолошку форму као листу ставки која се реферира на одређену појаву (културолошке пунктове града Београда) без одређеног наратива.
Термин Ризом је преузет из теорије ризома, филозофа Жил Делеза и психоаналитичара Феликса Гатарија. Ризом је модел приказивања света, просторна мрежа, мноштво тачака које су у мећусобној вези, где се све може довести у везу са свим. Ризом искључује централну тачку, средиште, хијерархијску структуру и метафора је за вишезначност, ширење у простору и ширење значења.

Симбол града је сложенији симбол који пружа већу могућност изражавања тензије између геометријске рационалности и сплета људских живота. На том становишту аутори пројекта „Ризом града“ разматрају да је концепт простора утемељен у различитим врстама индивидуалних и колективних искустава. „Геометријски простор“ разликује се од друге спацијалности коју Мерло-Понти дефинише као „антрополошки простор“. Тако долазимо до појма спознајне картографије (cognitive mapping) Фредрика Џејмисона. Та когнитивна мапа не базира се на опонашању и одражавању реалности. Естетика когнитивне картографије је начин којим се друштвено спознајно уцртава индивидуални однос наспрам локалне, националне и интернационалне стварности. Такав став представља одређену врсту искуства у односу према свету, могућност властитог уписивања и сналажења артикулисањем субјективитета унутар менталне, психогеографске карте града.

Учесници пројекта су уметници:

Matrin John Callanan,
Аleš Vaupotič,
Narvika Bovcon,
Franciska Wicke,
Дејан Грба,
Jадранко Баришић,
Тијана Шушница,
Чланови DigitGroup-a:
Драгана Грбић,
Горан Рубил,
Милан Ђурић,
Милош Ђурић.

Migrating Reality

Location of I text published in Migrating Reality

Migrating Reality
ISBN 978-9955-834-01-4

Electronic and digital systems generate completely new forms of migration. In the creative arts, new phenomena related to migration and the synergies of disparate systems are emerging. Artistic products evolve from traditional forms into hybrid digital forms. Analog products are being digitized; data spaces are trans-located from one data storage system to another; existing sounds, images, and texts are remixed and fused into new datasets.

The book is based on international conference and exhibition Migrating Reality which took place on April 4-5, 2008 in Galerie der Künste, Berlin, Germany, and on material submitted to the online magazine balsas.cc. As with the conference, the exhibition, and the on-line projects, the book is an overview of the migration topic from various perspectives, not excluding the use of a variety of languages. For example, we offer the reader an interview with Žilvinas Lilas “Bastymasis man būtų daug priimtinesnis žodis” conducted by Vytautas Michelkevičius in Lithuanian and the text “Kulturtransfer in der Frühen Neuzeit – eine andere Realität der Migration” by Philipp Zitzlsperger – an essay on migration from a historians perspective. The ideas presented textually in the book shift back and forth from essays and articles to projects and back to essays. The territories shift from social space to virtual space and eventually land us back in a realm of physical, political, economical, and historical reality.

Publisher
KHM – Kunsthochschule für Medien
>top – Verein zur Förderung kultureller Praxis e.V.
VšĮ Mene / Balsas.cc
www.migrating-reality.com | info@migrating-reality.com

Editorial board
Mindaugas Gapševičius, John Hopkins, Žilvinas Lilas, Vytautas Michelkevičius

The Watchful Eye – Surveillance in the World Around Us

Logan Turner included Location of I in The Watchful Eye:

This collection of art works focuses on the theme of surveillance/being watched. More and more these days, our governments know where we are, what we’re doing, and sometimes even what we’re planning to do. As curator, I feel that being under nearly constant watch is a violation of our right to privacy, and therefore I have brought together these art works to show both the irony of and scariness of being under a microscope.

Seeking for another space

Natsumi Oba, included Location of I in Seeking for another space

Ever since Internet has been expanded, people have started identifying themselves in this virtual world. They have created another social space in order for these identities to interact. The artists in this exhibition take elements of the physical world that users can relate to as real space, recreating the real space on the web, which is all virtual after all.

Balsas: aktualios ir medijų kultūros žurnalas

Journal on Media Culture Balsas publish Location of I and An Ethnology of Solitude:

BALSAS is an interdisciplinary journal on media culture. BALSAS started as an initiative of VILMA (Vilnius Laboratory of New Media), which goal is to introduce the media culture to Lithuania. BALSAS wears a format of new media, whereas content is created with participatory principle by participants/readers and with editorial principle by editors. BALSAS has an intention to create a digital and critical community, which develops the discourse of media culture in Lithuania.

Aerial View

Aerial View, curated by Phuong:

In the Location of I, artist Martin John Callanan gives himself up for public viewing. He enables viewers to find him at any moment in time through a use of a tracking device that pinpoints his exact location through a series of maps. This form of observation allows Callanan to be continuously accessible to everyone. He states in his artist statement that this project allows him to be both physically and virtually sought and accessible. Advances in technology has allowed people to be available and accessible at all times through various means like cell phones and Blackberrys but also allows people to be elusive if needed. Callanan says that because of the Location of I, he loses the ability to hide and thus increases his vulnerability.

Observation has always played a role in the development of art. People or things have been used as subjects of work or as bystanders in a larger piece without ever even knowing they are involved. The participation or unknowingness of people in a piece of work is an interesting aspect that I believe says a lot of how the work coveys itself. For this exhibit, the works that were selected were chosen because of their connections to the idea of being observed or watched. Observation can be done through several different means. Observation can be taken literally where another is physically watching someone or something or it could be more of a conceptual observation.

It is a part of human nature to observe. We are all fascinated by each other and by our surroundings. Whether through physical means or conceptual ideas, the actions of the world intrigues everyone in some shape or form. We all would like to know more about what we see and at times that can be impossible. Whether because of privacy or a lack of connection to learn more about what we see, observation can be unfulfilled. With the use of contemporary art and new media, the depth of observation can be widened and people can learn more about what they desire to see. This could be done in a virtual world or through means that may seem unrealistic but new media allows for an avenue for people to explore this part of their human nature.

Seeing Privates

Location of I included in a Rhizome Exhibit curated by Corey Richardson:

This exhibition features four artworks that focus on aspects of surveillance and tracking of the private and public lives of humans in the world of today and the projects were brought together to hopefully expand our consciousness concerning the increasing lack of privacy in our lives today. With the remarkable advances that technology has gone through in the past several years, the lives of people in the world today are more public and available than ever before in history. In this world of Wireless internet, cell phones, digital cameras, credit cards, and surveillance cameras, we are being observed and tracked mare than ever before. It is hard to imagine how often someone is “tracked” everyday of their life and most people don’t think about it, but just like the three artists shown in this exhibition, I hope to open some eyes and get people thinking about the privacy issues of today. So, imagine if you wanted to disappear, hide, or vanish in today’s society. You would need to eliminate ways for anyone to track or watch you, but that is completely impossible it the world of today. That would mean no credit card use, the emails, no cell phone calls, and no internet, but even then, your information and records would still available online and there would still be cameras in every store, school, and on every corner. Staying private is impossible with just simple tasks in today’s life and that’s without even getting the FBI or CIA involved. Technology has made it impossible to “hide” from the world. Just think, Google earth is available to anyone in the world and it is just the tip of the capabilities when it comes to satellite and cameras so imagine what is considered “private” to the general public but is available to governments for surveillance. There are devices being used that the general public won’t know about for another ten years and advances in technology being made everyday. We all might as well live in glass houses, because there really is no private life available anymore.

Martin John Callanan’s artwork shows that it is impossible for the artist to “hide”. His location is constantly being recorded and made available on his site. This piece helps to show the point that we can easily be tracked in today’s world.

To Be or Not To Be – Private

Location of I included in a Rhizome Exhibit curated by Michelle Graham:

Privacy is something that is becoming more and more scarce in today’s electronic society. Where it doesn’t seem to bother some, others will go to great lengths to preserve what shreds they have left. Artists mirror the varying public opinions on this matter. Some such as Roch Forowicz want to bring to the attention of all that their privacy is being invaded without their knowledge or rather without their attention. It is general knowledge that there are surviellance cameras watching us when we enter certain areas. Without a second thought we pass by them and don’t think about them again. But if you do stop and think about it, our image is being captured, our actions are being recorded. The thought of Big Brother may cross your mind. It should, because you are being watched and you have no control over that record of your actions. That moment of your life no longer belongs to you, not alone at least. Forowicz saw the error in this and wanted to express his frustration in being observed. He transplanted a surviellance camera from one area to another. While not changing the function of the camera he did change its purpose. Generally the camera is not meant to allow the observed to become the observer. He projected the observed images up on the wall of the subway station they were walking into. This enabled them to immediately recognize the fact that they were being monitored. Because this was all deemed illegal, this act was short lived but very effective. On the other end of the spectrum there is British artist Ellie Harrison who is willing to share her private moments with anyone willing to log on. Everyday since January 1, 2006 she has faithfully made entries into her online journal. Entitled Tea Blog, appropriately Ellie Harrison records the first thought she has while enjoying her first warm beverage of the day. While not very informative it allows for a brief glimpse into the inner workings of her mind. Something that most people wouldn’t say out loud let alone share with the world, she puts it out there freely for all to read. Martin John Callanan also gives up his privacy freely. Through his work entitled Location I, he has enabled anyone to be able to learn his location at anytime. He has labeled himself an “absolute citizen”, he has made himself everyones neighbor although not physically. He wanted to make himself accessible for anyone to talk to, work with or just be able to contact him whenever and where ever he is. While all of these are taken to be true there is the possibility of false statements being made. We take it on good faith that the thoughts that Ellie Harrison are making in her Tea Blog really are her first thoughts, and that Martin John Callanan is where he says he is. These thoughts maybe intriguing, it may add an element of suspicion to the situation. There is room for interpretation and specutlation of the private lives that we are getting glimpses of. Whether it’s guessing the destinations of the people walking in and out of the subway, or the first thoughts of a women you’ll never meet or the location of a man you have no intention of ever contacting. It is interesting to have the knowledge and the ability to know more. The artist Ethan Ham recognized the interest in the stories behind the faces. He created art with a program that attempts to make facial recognitions. With this program he coupled photographs with short stories written by Benjamin Rosenbaum. Through this collaboration he created Anthroptic. While a photograph of someone of something appears you can listen to a story behind the photograph. Whether it is about someone they met or about the thoughts that were triggered by the photograph. There is a continuity between the story and the photograph that seems to bridge the gap and fill in the history. While watching the display there is no doubt that the two are meant to go together, it is a voyueristic experience. Like listening in on someones private conversation. Then you find out that it is actors reading Rosenbaums short stories and the photographs are random and the stories are not related. Privacy is the key to all of these works of art. Whether they are trying to preserve it, give it up or layer it beneath falsehood, privacy is a topic that all can relate to. I also believe it is human nature to be interested in others lives, it can be like reading a good book. Always wanting to learn more about others, it may help us to understand ourselves.

Callanan has labeled himself an “absolute citizen”, he has enabled anyone to be able to find him at anytime. Through the digital world anyone can find him, work with him and even speak with him if that is what they desire. This sacrifice of privacy has allowed him to become everyones neighbor. Callanan is creating a global village, in his digital world there may not be physical contact but there are connections being made.

Information curated by David Battle

Curated by David Battle, A Rhizome Exhibit featuring both I Wanted to See All of the News From Today and Location of I:

More so than ever the significance of information has been at a high. The transitions from analog to digital and written to electronic media are finished. Since the beginning of what people call the information age the ways in which information is used, collected, and made available have continued to push the boundaries of what some thought would never be possible—or rather, have never thought possible. The use of information continues to change daily. These four artists just take part in the spread of concepts that will, like everything in the information age, become commonplace as people are exposed.

[also at IABlog]

Dazed Digital 50

Location of I is added to the “sites we missed” from Dazed Digital, Digital 50:

In recent years, we have seen an explosion of creativity online – as technology becomes more accessible, and download speeds increase, so more and more artists, designers, writers and photographers have taken to the web. But which of them are really worth your time?

Is Martin okay?

Sam Easterby-Smith writes:

…I figure he must be someone I was chatting to in the Cornerhouse or somesuch. A few more clicks and it became apparent that he is some crazy multimedia artist type and happens to be involved in a thing called the Velocity Festival based at Folly Pictures in Lancaster (where I used to hang out) and has been taking photographs of Morecambe Bay in some kind of interactive GPS-tracked SMS-influenced way and that this would all be visible from the “Map room” on platform 3 of Lancaster Station. His facebook status is currently “Martin is okay” a missive he has been repeating periodically for the last few weeks. What if Martin is not okay? What happens then? What if he’s got a cold or something? Anyway I still am not quite sure who he is…

Velocity Arts Festival

For one day only – Saturday 13th October

Martin John Callanan will travel around the Velocity festival, sending information about his whereabouts to an online map in our Lancaster map room. Visit the map room at the station and help us to track the artist’s location throughout the day. Interact with Martin through text messages, photography and drawing as he visits towns, stations and landmarks around the bay.

A Big Draw event.
Venue: Map Room, Platform 3, Lancaster Station.
www.folly.co.uk/velocity

The journey is now documented here

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