Working on a site/context specific piece of work for a solo show as part of the ‘in the window’ program @ AirSpace in Stoke-on-Trent. I think I may have discussed Firewall before (and have even posted video) but the work has not been realised and until VERY recently has not even been in development at all, just waiting for an opportune moment.
I will be showing the work in the two front downstairs windows of the gallery in late august… I’ll post more about the details at a later date when everything is confirmed (it doesn’t have a title yet)!
I’m interested in how firewalls (in computing) block access to files and how if made physical can stop acces to the gallery; with this in mind the work will only be visable when the gallery is closed, if the gallery is open the work will be turned off and put away. Due to the logistics of the space back projection of the video will only work on one side of the building, in the other windows I am making a rollerblind with a screengrab from the footage orinted over. This means that it can occupy the space in a convienient manner, can be on/off/up/down with ease to allow for opening and closing and even just popping out to get milk and questions the material/immaterial devide…
The proposal I sent off for this show describes and contextualises the work by saying:
‘The work will consists of a low resolution webcam video showing a full screen of burning fire. This video will be back projected on to a site-specific back projection screen made to fill an exterior window of the exhibition space, the exhibition space will only be entered to provide maintenance to the equipment inside, other that this the space will not be entered so that the video stops access to space in the same way that firewalls stop access to information, if the gallery is open then the work must be turned off. The work will only be viewed from outside but will be available 24 hours a day providing the gallery is closed. This process of eliminating access reflects not only digital processes but physical ones as well; it is something Spanish born and Mexican based artist, Santiago Sierra has explored in Wall Enclosing a Space at the Spanish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2003 but lays more contemporary concerns around security and technology over this.’
work-in-progress
