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The World in 24 Hours
'Robert Adrian X
Robert Adrian X
Monday, September 27, 1982, till Thursday, September 28, 1982
Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, Regional Studio for Upper Austria
ARTIST´S USE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS This telecommunications program by artists is like other such events in the past intended to develop techniques for individual, personal, use of existing telecommunications technology.
It is often claimed that modern electronic systems and networks are not accessible to private individuals but actually access is a relatively easy matter, the real problems only arise when one seeks ways in which these systems can be used. One soon discovers that, with the exception of the games and entertainment sector, all this technology is designed for the corporate user.
Individual users are isolated from the design of new technology because, having no precise need, it is assumed that their interests are met by firms interested in marketing high-tech by-products, in serving existing demand rather than assisting in the development of possible alternative directions in electronic technology. If any sort of chance arises to develop new techniques by means of which private individuals can make meaningful use of these electronic media—to assert their right to genuine participation in the development of this new electronic world—then it will have to be very soon. It is probably too late even now to really change the direction of design development but we can try at least to discover ways to insert human content into commercial /military world floating in this electronic space. And this is where artists are traditionally strong ... in discovering new ways to use media and materials in inventing new and contradictory meanings for existing organisations and systems, in subverting self-serving power structures in the interests of nearly everyone. Artists using electronic telecommunications are trying to find human meaning in an electronic space.
THE WORLD IN 24 HOURS A project connecting artists around the world in a non-stop series of dialogues beginning at 12 noon on September 27 and ending at 12 noon on September 28, 1982 (Central European Time). 14 artists or groups around the world will be in communication with Linz, Austria, during the 24-hour project. Each of the participating locations will be called on the telephone from the central location in Linz at 12 noon local time (i.e. 18.00 in Linz = 12 noon in Toronto). Each contact will last about one hour, permitting the exchange of visual material via telephone by means of either Slow-Scan Television or Telefacsimile transceiving equipment. In addition the I. P. Sharp computer timesharing network will be available for computer graphic exchange and/or coordination of the projects. Participants have been offered the opportunity of choosing any telecommunications medium for their contribution providing that it operates via normal telephone and is also available in Linz. However the present state of development makes only the 3 media mentioned above and described below feasible for use by artists or other private individuals. - Computer timesharing: (I. P. Sharp APL Network):
Equipment: Computer Terminal.
Medium: Local Telephone to nearest IPSA office.
The I. P. Sharp office in Vienna will provide computer time and technical assistance to participants wishing to use I. P. Sharp software for computergraphic exchange. The ARTBOX and CONFER programs will also be available for coordination of the project and for computer communications exchanges.
- Slow-scan television (SSTV):
Equipment: SSTV Transceiver (e.g. robot 530)
Medium: Direct long-distance telephone connection. Signals from a video camera are converted by the transceiver into audio signals and transmitted via telephone. The received signal is reconverted to a video signal and displayed on a monitor. Each image takes 8.5 seconds to be completed.
- Telefacsimile (Telefax): Equipment: Telefax transceiver (e.g. 3M ‘‘9136”’ group III (transceiver)
Medium: Direct long-distance telephone connection.
Telefax transceivers convert images on paper into audio signals and transmit them via telephone. A compatible machine then converts the signal back into an image on paper. There are 3 different types of machine available. Groups I, II, and III. The fastest of these are the group III machines, which can transmit an A4 page in under a minute. Machines like the 3M ”9136” are also compatible with the slower group I and II machines.
The 24-hour program will begin with an extensive European section lasting about 6 hours, from 12 noon until 18.00 (Central European Time). The European section will include contributions from Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Vienna, and, concluding the European section, Dublin. There will also be an experiment called ”PSI-BERNETIC NETWORKING” (using the I. P. Sharp Timesharing Network) initiated by Roy Ascott in Bath, U.K., going on during the whole European section.
The overseas program will comprise at least 4 North American locations (there may also be a New York City participant), Hawaii, Sydney /Australia and Tokyo. The final contact will be from Turkey at 11:00 on September 28 (Linz time).
THE SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME) 12:00 – 18:00, Exchanges with Frankfurt, Florence, Geneva, Amsterdam, Vienna and Dublin.
18:00 – 21:00, Toronto and Pittsburg (New York?).
21:00 – 23:00, San Francisco and Vancouver.
23:00 – 03:00, Hawaii (with Pacific region conference)
03:00 – 04:00, Sydney
04:00 – 05:00, Tokyo
05:00 – 09:00, open for conferencing, discussion, preparation of documentation, rest etc.
09:00 – 11:00, Summing up and discussion of project with European participants.
11:00 – 12:00, Telex exchange with minus-delta-t in Turkey, en route to Bangkok.
PROJECTS
LINZ This project was begun in January 1982 when a series of workshops was arranged at the Hochschule für künstlerische und industrielle Gestaltung, Linz. These workshops by Robert Adrian X (funded by the Österreichisches Kulturservice) were intended to create a team of artists and students able to prepare and transmit original work and to man the equipment during the 24-hour event.
The workshops were coordinated by Waltraud Cooper, lecturer at the Hochschule under Professor Laurids Ortner. Ms. Cooper will also be coordinating participation by the Linz group during the program.
The workshop participants were: Bruno Aichinger, Helmut Guntner, Gerald Hackenberg, Josef Horvat, Elisabeth Juan, Moidi Kretschmann, Michael Langanger, Jörg Mikesch, Otto Mittmannsgruber, Sonja Reischl.
FRANKFURT Coordination: Thomas Bayne
Location: Städelschule, Hochschule für Kunst, Frankfurt/Main
Participants: Thomas Bayrle, Ernst Caramelle, Jochen Fey, Jurgen Riehm and Monika Schwitte.
Media: Telefacsimile
Thomas Bayrle is an artist working with photography, traditional media and artists books and is Dozent at the Städelschule.
FLORENCE Coordination: Maurizio Nannucci
Location: Zona, Florence
Participants: Fabrizio Cornell, Albert Mayr, Paolo Nasi, Massimo Nannucci, Maurizio Nannucci, Gianni Pettena, Marino Vismara
Media: Telefacsimile
ZONA is an independent group of artists working together in all media—including music, performance, radio, video etc. ZONA is also an artist-run space in the center of Florence.
GENEVA Coordination: Gerald Minkoff
Location: Video Mixmedia Group, rue de Javois, Geneva Participants: Gerald Minkoff, Muriel Olesen and members of the Video-Mixmedia Group.
Project: God Trap: Part Dog —attempting to link electronically-mentally, Paradise with Hell. ”Cool and slow the electrons before it’s too late.”
Media: Telefacsimile and/or Computer Timesharing
Gerald Minkoff and Muriel Olesen are artists working with electronic media, photography, and performance. They live and work in Geneva.
AMSTERDAM Coordination: Annie Wright and David Garcia
Location: Mazzo, Amsterdam
Project: Late Times Extra
”… one of a number of works we have made based on the insertion of ‘fictions’ into everyday formats. We have previously used shop Windows, street posters, publications and television and now telecommunications.” The project will treat the computer terminal as a news agency teleprinter, developing a plot trough the mixture of ”real” news and fiction.
Media: Computer Timesharing
Annie Wright and David Garcia are English artist/ writers living in Amsterdam.
VIENNA Coordination: Helmut Mark
Location: Österreichische Kultur Service
”Studio” Participants: Markus Geiger, Ruth Labak, Helmut Mark, Alice Weber, Heimo Zobernig
Project: Sputnik macht's möglich
The 5 artists will meet at the Kultur Service ”Studio” (Grünangergasse 6) from 10 am to 6 pm every day from Sept. 24 to 29. On Sept. 25 and 26 they will hold workshops on telecommunications media in preparation for the 24-hour event on Sept. 27 and 28. On Sept. 29 a discussion of the entire project is planned.
Media: Computer Timesharing and Telefacsimile
Helmut Mark is an artist working in many media, mainly in public space. He lives in Vienna.
DUBLIN Coordination: Brian King
Location: National College of Art and Design
Participants: Brian King and students of the College
Media: Computer Timesharing and Telefacsimile
Brian King is a sculptor and teacher. He is head of the Sculpture department at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
TORONTO Coordination: Derek Dowden (Artculture Resource Center) and Dieter Hastenteufel.
Location: Communitex: Community Videotex.
Participants: Dieter Hastenteufel, Derek Dowden, Peeter Sepp, Jane Wright, and others.
Project: in preparation.
Media: Computer Timesharing, Slow-Scan and/or Telefacsimile. Derek Dowden works with Artculture Resource Center, a non-profit organising facility for cultural projects.
Communitex is a non-profit organisation to promote and facilitate artistic, cultural and community use of new telecommunications technology.
SAN FRANCISCO Coordination: Tom Klinkowstein.
Location: Audio Visual Center, the San Francisco State University.
Participants: Staff and students at the Audio Visual Center and at the Broadcast Communications Art Department (SFSU).
Project: The Customer is always right
Advertising or advertising-related images will be broadcast live via the (interactive) Cable Televisionstation in San Francisco and via Slow-Scan Television to Linz. Similar material will be displayed as slides or video tapes to the audience at the OFF center in Linz and transmitted to San Francisco via Slow-Scan Television. Responses to the transmitted images will be exchanged via the I.P. Sharp Computer Timesharing network.
Media: Computer Timesharing and Slow-Scan Television.
Tom Klinkowstein is an artist, designer and teacher specialising in electronic media, audio-visual techniques and telecommunications. He divides his time between San Francisco and Amsterdam, Holland.
PITTSBURGH Coordination: Bruce Breland.
Location: Department of Fine Arts, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh.
Participants: GEKKO (Generative Energy/Kinetic Knowledge /Order), Bruce Breland, Herb Coshak, James Kocher, Harry Holland, Diane Samuels and Cindy Snodgrass.
Project: Gekko's Window - Bruce Breland—Casting Color on the Conemagh (SSTV)
- James Kocher—X/O (SSTV)
- Diane Samuels—Finger Performance (SSTV)
- Herb Coshak—Aleth (SSTV)
- Cindy Snodgrass—Windrays, Airwaves, Highways (SSTV)
- Harry Holland—Strata Variants (Computer Timesharing).
Media: Slow-Scan Television and Computer Timesharing.
VANCOUVER Coordination: Henry Bull and Bill Bartlett.
Location: Western Front Society, Vancouver.
Participants: Henry Bull, Bill Bartlett, Kate Craig, Glen Lewis and members of the Western Front Society.
Media: Slow-Scan Television and Computer Timesharing.
Henry Bull is an artist, musician and curator working in practically every medium from photography to radio. He lives in Vancouver and is responsible for the gallery program at the Western Front. Bill Bartlett is a pioneer of artists’ use of telecommunications, especially with Slow-Scan Television and Computer Communications. He lives on Pender Island, British Columbia. Western Front is an artist-run center (founded in 1972) that offers programmes in visual arts, music, dance and video as well as an ambitious ”artist-in-residence” program.
HAWAII Coordination: John Southworth.
Location: University of Hawaii, Honolulu.
Participants: John Southworth, Joseph Tanton and staff and students of the University.
Media: Computer Timesharing and Slow-Scan Television.
John Southworth is an educator and specialist for integrated electronic learning systems. He lives and works in Hawaii.
SYDNEY Coordination: Eric Gidney.
Location: City Art Institute, Sydney, Australia. Participants: Erich Gidney, Ian Howard and students of the City Art Institute.
Media: Computer Timesharing and/or Telefacsimile.
Eric Gidney and Ian Howard are lecturers at the City Art Institute.
TOKYO Coordination: Kazue Kobata.
Location: Body Weather Laboratory,
Participants: Min Tanaka, Yoshi Nobu, Kazue Kobata.
Project: in preparation.
Kazue Kobata is an artist and dancer working in Japan and America.
BATH (ENGLAND) Coordination: Roy Ascott.
Location: Art Access /Networking, Bath, England.
Participants:
Project: PSI-Bernetic Networking (2 projects proposed). - ”To identify nine people with terminal access around the planet, each to choose a card in sequence to make up the celtic spread (with my card). We shall then participate and interact trough the network to generate meanings trough the spread.”
- ”A second project will involve a kind of round table seance, automatic writing at the ASCII keyboard. This use of chance coupled with our individual /group intuitions and intimations will likely also generate some unexpected material.” ”Both proposals attempt to generate a kind of group consciousness of planetary dimensions through the network to get at new ideas, texts or images. The second project may include, as input, trance utterances by clairvoyants if we can involve enough individuals in sufficient countries to make it global.”
Media: Computer Timesharing.
Roy Ascott is an artist and theoretician presently Head of the School of Fine Art, Gwent College of Higher Education, Newport, Wales; member of the advisory board, International Network for the Arts, New York; member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Leonardo, Pergamon Press, Oxford; and director of Art Access/Networking.
TURKEY Coordination: Minus Delta t (–∆t).
Location: Turkey (en route to Bangkok).
Participants: Karel Dudesek, Mike Hentz, Bernhard Müller (–∆t).
Project: Bangkok / Archiv Europa
Media: Telex (?).
Minus Delta t is a group of artists who have been, since 1980, on the expedition ”Project Bangkok.”
The project encompasses the Archive Europa, A Festival, the transportation and erection of a large and heavy monument, and working in the countries through which they are travelling until the end of December 1982. Apparently a classic expedition, but Minus Delta t are making art as field research.
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