Login:
immersive residencies for artists in mid take off
The second and third of ANAT's residencies for emerging visual artists are now under way. Lisa Beilby will be in residence at 24 Hour Art in Darwin, and Michael Barac will work at Canberra Contemporary Art Space.
Supported by the Visual Arts Craft Fund of the Australia Council, Login: aims to assist visual artists in the development of web based projects. The project involves four residencies/research projects for Australian artists, run in partnership with members of the Contemporary Art Organisations (CAOs) network. 200 Gertrude Street (Melbourne), 24 Hour Art (Darwin), Canberra Contemporary Art Space and Boomalli (Sydney) will be hosting the physical component of the residencies.
The Login: residencies provide the participating emerging artists with access to computers and the internet, as well as the critical and cultural context of the host arts organisations. Through ANAT, the artists also have access to web server space, some technical support and the support of an online community. The intention of Login: is to provide emerging artists with an opportunity to explore, experiment and participate in the connectivity of the internet.
24 Hour Art:
Lisa Beilby is a new media artist who works with photographic media and the internet. Her residency at 24 Hour Art in Darwin, NT, will involve the creation of a constantly evolving multimedia virtual space which will be reactive to interaction.
Beilby intends to create a website which prods, cajoles and quizzes the interactor/s into a meandering network of shifting pathways made of lush and challenging sound, visuals and intellectual / psychological adventures. Beilby describes the website as a thing , something which exploits the more insidious aspects of human nature and human psyche with and without the Interactor/s consent.
She says of the project "I'd like to subvert the standard methods of navigation through the website environment - maybe the thing guides its user with clever and subtle devices, perhaps it is a noise that suggests an instruction or event, instead of words or symbols. This thing asks you questions sometimes; turns and twists, surprises and tricks. This thing responds to your answers, its asks about desires, fears and fantasies.
"I believe there is great potential for better and more exciting exploitation of the human senses whilst viewing the web, limited as is to sight, sound and whatever sensation can be generated by the site creator; text often takes over where image, noise and atmosphere could alternatively flourish."
Canberra Contemporary Art Space:
Michael Barac is an artist and programmer who has used digital media technologies to create works for web, video and photographic environments. Barac wishes to comment on contemporary political debates regarding Australia's constitution, focussing the pragmatic representation of Australia as a Republic. He is interested in the icon of the flag, and how during the course of the Republican debate, various forums have established hypothetical public selection processes for a new Australian flag.
He intends to construct an alternative flag forum, where internet users can partake in the creation of a flag that evolves with time. Web participants may determine each mutation of the ever metamorphosing flag, by voting, or intermingling different designs. He says of the project, "I would like people to participate and have fun in some way. It would be an opportunity for people to feel involved ... creating more discussion, particularly about what it means to be Australian".
Barac is interested in critiquing the credulity of internet users by experimenting with propaganda and the distortion of information.