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Last
update: October 10, 2003 - Texte français - Testo Italiano
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| Sept
1 , 2003 |
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"Multimedia"
- collage, acrylique, papiermaché
- 106x77 |
Oct.
4, 2003
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The
idea
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I wanted
to create an allegoric representation of the multimedia world of
electronics and data processing.
I wanted
to show images and symbols of the electronic audio-visual systems
like speakers or headsets, microphones, displays and screens, storage
devices, next to traditional media like paper, pencils and paint
brushes.
Here
at left is my initial design sketch showing the various components
to include in a matrix 3 by 3 . Most of these components were to
be objects in real life size like the microphone, the keyboard,
the CD-ROM disks, ... Therefore the size of the piece should be
calculated to accommodate such components. Click the image at left
to see the calculation sheet that I made.
Note
on 'multimedia' and 'interaction'
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I
did not like the square size of a 3 by 3 matrix. I decided to
construct a 2 columns piece where the left column would show the
electronic multimedia and the right column the traditional multimedia
elements. As I was working and thinking about what I wanted to
say, it became clear to me that the electronic multimedia is still
a very poor concept and should be degraded as compared to traditional
multimedia. I then thought of inserting a white skull mask as
the center piece of the electronic multimedia.
Electronic
multimedia is cold, only vision and hearing. Traditional multimedia
is warm because it is significantly more multi senses, including
touch and smell.
The
idea of the skull mask started me full speed on the project.
I cut a thick sheet of styrofoam to make the model of the skull
and decided that the forehead should house a computer screen.
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| Execution |
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With
the styrofoam model I made a papier-mâché mask and
cut CD-ROMs to fit the holes of the eyes. At that point I had the
idea to use keys spelling "MULTIMEDIA" as the teeth of
the skull.
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A
headset with microphone could be easily fixed on the skull. But
the real problem was the computer screen. At some point I decided
to replace the screen (to difficult to implement) with flashing
colour lights, but the lights should be flashing on a background
of broken pieces of mirror glued on white foam so as to evoke
the convolutions of the brain.
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headset was coloured red and I started preparing the panel on which
to hang the skull. It should be covered with pieces of printed circuits.
The
complete mapping of the piece was now fixed as shown at left.
The construction is on a wood panel 106x 77 cm.
Squared wood bars of 3cm section separate the 7 boxes.
The
left column houses the elements of electronic multimedia and the
right column those of traditional media.
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The CD-ROM box shows the inside of a hard disk drive and a set of CDs
disposed vertically in a rack.
La
case des CD-ROM montre un disque dur ouvert et un ensemble de CDs disposés
verticalement sur un rayon.
L'area
dei CD-ROM mostra un disco rigido aperto e un insieme di CD allineati
verticalmente.
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The
keyboard/printing box contains the central part of a keyboard with
blank keys.
Above the keyboard is a battery of used ink tanks cartridges, which
I had kept for sometime, not knowing what I would do with them.
The
back panel on which to hang the skull mask was covered with printed
recent technology circuits boards and 2 core memory plans of the
1964 Control Data 6600, the world fastest computer at that time.
The
brain with broken mirrors and flashing lights was placed in the
top center of the panel.
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The mask hangs on the brain.
At
that point I decided to put bright LEDs lights behind the eyes.
These 2 white
light LEDs and those coloured of the flashing lights on the brain are
powered by sets of two 1,5v rechargeable batteries.
Le masque
crâne est accroché sur le cerveau.
J'ai ensuite décidé de placer des lampes témoin brillantes
derrière les yeux du masque.
Toutes les lampes sont alimentées par 2 groupes de 2 batteries
rechargeables de 1,5v. chacune.
La maschera
teschio è attaccata al cervello.
Ho quindi deciso di aggiungere delle lampadine brillanti dietro gli occhi
della maschera.
Tutte le lampadine vanno alimentate da 2 gruppi di 2 batterie di 1,5v.
ciascuna.
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At
this point I started working on the right column of traditional
media.
An open book would face and oppose the CD-ROM rack.
The write box would contain an old fashion writing feather.
The
paint box would display a palette with some colour tubes, pencils
and knives.
A
set of piano keys would face and oppose the computer keyboard.
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I sculpted piano keys in wood and varnished them. I added a Steinway
logo colour printed on paper, gold on black.
Later I had the logo laser printed black on a golden metal tag.
J'ai taillé
et vernis des touches de piano en bois. J'ai ensuite ajouté le
symbole Steinway imprimé sur papier, or sur fond noir.
Le symbole
final est imprimé laser en noir sur fond métallique or.
Ho tagliato
e verniciato dei tasti di piano-forte in legno. Ho aggiunto il simbolo
Steinway stampato su carta, oro su nero.
Il simbolo finale è stampato laser in nero su fondo metallico
dorato.
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At
some point I reflected on the lack of 'touch' of electronic multimedia
and the poor subsitute of 'click'.
Note
on 'multimedia'
I decide
to add a mouse creeping on the forehead of the skull, colouring
it in black and red and to name the mask "CLICK" which
I stencilled on it.
In
the opposite column, I stamped (the 'touch') my whole right hand
fingerprint as well as that of my grandchild Federico.
Finally I wrote 'touch' and 'smell' on the panel.
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I was
not yet satisfied with the book hanging up. What book should be
there? Why? Finally I got the idea to build a small book shelf which
could be used to put any book the owner of the piece could want
there - and more than one - and substitute them as desired.
Another
detail was to place the small switches, which control the lights
in the brain and the eyes of the mask. I place them imbedded in
printed circuits boards on each side of the CD-ROM rack.
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Last effort
was to decorate the wooden separation of the columns and various boxes.
Computer printed circuits were placed an the separation bars of the left
columns. Those of the right columns were worked and varnished as old wood.
The vertical central separation between the columns was covered with a
narrow band of mirror.
Un dernier
effort pour la décoration des barres de bois séparant les
colonnes et les zones du tableau.
Des pièces de circuits sont placées sur les séparation
dans la colonne de gauche. Celles de la colonne de droite sont vernis
en imitation de vieux bois. La séparation verticale centrale est
couverte par une étroite bande de miroir vieilli à l'ancienne.
Un ultimo
sforzo per la decorazione delle barre di separazione tra colonne e zone.
Pezzi di circuiti stampati sono usati per le separazioni nella colonna
di sinistra. Quelle di destra sono verniciate come legno antico. La separazione
verticale tra le due colonne è coperta da una stretta fascia di
specchio invecchiato.
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On
October 4th I considered the piece was complete.
Here it is.
Le
4 octobre je considère le travail terminé.
Le voici.
Il
4 Ottobre considero il lavoro concluso.
Ecco lo.
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Click on
it to enlarge and also review enlarged details.
Cliquer
l'image pour l'agrandir et en observer certains détails.
Cliccare
l'immagine per ingrandirla e vedere particolari.
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Multimedia
revisited
"The
smell of things"
"Le
parfum des choses"
"Il profumo delle cose"
"Das Parfüm der Sachen"
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Multimedia
revisited
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