Gold (2008)
Gold is an interactive video installation which explores our obsession with super-stardom, and the extravagance that accompanies it. It acts as a ‘magic mirror’ through which you are the star. Showering in glittery gold, you materialize, morph and dematerialize into sparkling gold dust. Made during the rise of social media, myspace, youtube and the emergence of viral internet superstars, the work reflects on the “15 minutes of fame” Andy Warhol predicted. Our obsession to become ‘immortalized’ in sparkling glittery gold becomes a reality, if only for a brief moment.
As an interactive piece – unlike some of my other similar works (e.g. Body Paint, Reincarnation) – this work is more about not moving, as opposed to moving. When you stay still, a shimmering glittery gold image of yourself appears. As soon as you move, or even breathe, it crumbles and vanishes.
(User Interface is not visible to public)
Images
Freestanding
Custom freestanding wood/metal enclosure
contains computer, screen, infrared camera, infrared emitters, custom software
Dimensions: variable (42″ – 90″ screen)
Wall-mountable
Vacuum formed black/gold shimmering perspex + black acrylic.
contains computer, screen, infrared camera, infrared emitters, custom software
Dimensions: 810mm x 550mm
Public interacting with “Gold”, Computer’s Point-of-View, Tent Digital 2009
A selection of captures from the infrared camera. Recorded on 27th September 2009 between 11:00am and 6:00pm at the Truman Brewery during Tent London/Digital, London Design Week.
Credits & Acknowledgements
made with openFrameworks