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| Yann Seznec (2014) Currents (Close up shot) |
Currents has
been commissioned by Edinburgh Art Festival, and is the work of Artist and
musician Yann Seznec. Produced by Suzy Glass using computer fans donated by
Computers for Charities the piece re-appropriates previously discarded
technology into an essentially recycled installation located on Easter Road in
Edinburgh in a re-painted and re-purposed police box.
Tied
in with the Tardis similarities is the work’s ability to transport the
participant into another place. The weather conditions from numerous places are
captured in real time and the data is harnessed to recreate wind conditions
within the confines of the police box using computer fans. You quite literally could be blown away
by this piece.
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| View of Currents, situated on Easter Road |
Seznec
manipulates technology in ways other artists might manipulate paint, technology
is part of our current present existence, so it’s a huge part of contemporary
art. Phase, fad, ism, Post/present/past/future po-mo, who knows, the important
aspect of technology in art right now is its ability to expand an artist’s
visual vocabulary.It’s interesting how you are reading this piece right now –
you are probably on some device consisting of plastic and metal, our connection
with technology is becoming increasingly seamless.
Artists
of the 60s working in the realms of Pop such as, well – I probably don’t need
to mention examples such as Mr Warhol here, so I won’t dither. We've all seen
his work, weather on kitsch little mass produced tea-towels or on t shirts
with extra digits in the price tag. However, back to the matter at hand; commercialism is infested as much in technology today as it was in the art of
the 60s. This Steve Jobs effect in technology has led to a throw-away culture,
something which Seznec has mined in order to bring back our connection with our
past technology. The use of computer fans could highlight our obsession with
tech – they cool down our computers whilst we consume information and data
behind screens acting as our gateway to double-click our way to satisfaction
(inserts passing Marshall McLuhan reference).
Seznec
draws upon real-time data from natural processes that have been transmitted and
re-encoded to make a microcosm sitting on the edge of a pavement in Edinburgh.
The physicality of the fans wearing away their own plastic existence highlights
the tactile nature of technology that likes to boast about itself being two
millimetres slimmer and five grams lighter than last year’s model. Never the
less, this piece is an ephemeral experience – constantly in flux (just like our
consumer desires) you’ll struggle to resist the allure of being a fan *.
*apologies
to end on such a pun.
Currents is open 10-6pm, Monday to Sunday until the 31st August. Click here to view more of Seznec's work and previous projects.
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