The Object Permanence series by Marco Pinter explores our perception of the existence of objects over time, which is fundamental to how we experience the world and our place in it. By exploiting the perceptual effect of object permanence through the use of graphics, computers and robotically-controlled sculpture, the viewer perceives objects over time which do not in fact exist. The “virtual” objects in the works behave as physical objects, thus impacting the gallery’s and viewer’s corporeal space. The work cycles between states of chaos and order, where the component sculptural systems are alternatively perturbed and at peace.
“The wearer’s face is captured with a video camera looking through a half-silvered mirror. There’s a second camera, which captures a view from the front of the box, near the eyes of the on-screen face. The outside view is shown on an internal LCD, which reflects on the half-silvered mirror; this way the wearer can look directly at the LCD and the camera at the same time.”
“Now, take out your favorite Magical And Revolutionary Technology Device. Use it for a bit. What did you feel? Did it feel glassy? Did it have no connection whatsoever with the task you were performing? I call this technology Pictures Under Glass. Pictures Under Glass sacrifice all the tactile richness of working with our hands, offering instead a hokey visual facade.”
“Computers don’t seem real to me because there’s a sheet of glass between you and whatever is happening. You never really get to touch anything that you’re doing unless you print it out. I don’t really enjoy making artwork on a computer because it doesn’t seem like I’ve done anything.”
“What else is in my pocket? I have the biggest encyclopaedia there has ever been, and a satellite view of the entire globe, and a personally curated collection of interesting writing by clever people that expands every day beyond my ability to read and absorb it. I have a direct, fast, simple line out to millions of people, and tools I can use to collaborate with them on any number of exciting projects or toys or games. Oh, and the news, too. All of it.”
