Maeda's SIMPLICITY

Signal In The Noise

Susan Sarandon is digitally disturbed.

In the middle of the snowstorm on the Cape, I turned on my television set in the hotel room. Perhaps their video system ran on satellite feeds. This might explain how every signal seemed garbled in some beautiful and exotic way. Witnessing the power of the unexpected digital glitch is my favorite means for understanding the digital medium. Computer programs running in controlled conditions deliver expected results; computer programs disturbed by chaotic influences break apart the limitations of human logic and give us a glimpse into the nature of the digital realm.

Having yawned through many digital video art installations and works, in complete fascination I sat and witnessed this incomparable exhibition of performance art realized in collaboration between the cable TV processor and the snowstorm. I may have found a new career as their exclusive talent agent.

We continue our slow trek towards the 16th Law of Simplicity next week with some thoughts on "technonature."

Posted by maeda at April 9, 2005 09:50 AM