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This is "Pollination," a roughly person-sized flower. It senses faces and speech, displaying them on its many small screens.

It's debuting in person this Friday at IA&A/Hillyer in DC, USA, as part of SUPERCYCLE, my solo show about huckster futures.

A front view of a large, trumpet-flower-shaped artwork. It glows brightly in a dark room due to the many small screens on its "petals."
This close-up shows its aluminum and DIN rail construction, with small LCDs and orange/blue wiring.
A side view shows its flower shape more clearly. It is built into a cart with small casters.
Its central "pistil" has globe-shaped LEDs as "pollen." A small display shows a face splayed out eight times in a ring, forming a creepy circle.
in reply to Chris Combs (he/him)

Chris Combs (he/him)
Chris Combs (he/him)
• •
With this piece, I am analogizing the data we spread when interacting online to pollen: millions of invisible particles emitted in all directions, with unseen effects.
#MastoArt #InteractiveArt
#mastoart #InteractiveArt
This entry was edited (10 months ago)
in reply to Chris Combs (he/him)

Chris Combs (he/him)
Chris Combs (he/him)
• •

Here's another new artwork: "An Hour with ELIZA," a dot-matrix print of a conversation between the 1960's "psychotherapist algorithm" ELIZA and ChatGPT 4.

#MastoArt #RetroComputing

A screenshot of a really boring text conversation between ChatGPT 4 and ELIZA. It starts, "Please tell Eliza about your problems. As an AI language model, I don't have personal experiences or emotions..." It's on dot-matrix paper.
the massively long dot matrix print spills onto the floor in a messy pile.
#mastoart #retrocomputing
in reply to Chris Combs (he/him)

Chris Combs (he/him)
Chris Combs (he/him)
• •

these are my "Cryptid Currencies," freshly minted cast aluminum tokens depicting Bigfoot in various stages of decrepitude. Eminently fungible.

some lost-PLA, others impression sand-cast, backs machined smooth.

#MastoArt #aluminum #casting

this close-up shows a well-formed token depicting Bigfoot and the words "Cryptid" and "Currency" around its edges. It is shiny and crisp.
a starting progression of five tokens, from worn and blobby towards crisp and complete.
and the end of the series, progressing from crisp and complete towards blackened, charred, and puddle-like.
The full series of 11 on the wall.
#mastoart #aluminum #casting
This entry was edited (10 months ago)
in reply to Chris Combs (he/him)

Chris Combs (he/him)
Chris Combs (he/him)
• •

This is "MacAffy's Anti-Viral 'Revigorator,'"' which purports to cure "all maladies afflicting Man or Machine!"

In reality, it does nothing.

#MastoArt #retrofuture

A strange device in a dark wooden case. It has a wand with two green discs visible. There is a metal plaque which reads, "MacAffy's Anti-Viral 'Revigorator'" and a vintage-seeming pamphlet with usage instructions. The device has a readout for "foot-candles."
This detail of the pamphlet reads, in part, "For all maladies afflicting Man or Machine!" - Wanness, torpor, nervous prostration, fragmentation, piles, dropsy, weak phloem, consumption, chilblains Press back the advance of DEATH’s icy breath with the cheek-ruddying power of REVIGORATOR’s sanitary radium crystals! Applicable to any child of Adam and Eve, no matter their age or condition: suckling infants and hobbling crones alike will see their robustness restored and maladies reversed by MacAffy’s scientific REVIGORATOR. Can also cleanse afflictions in various logical contrivances, such as mechanical adders, sequencing clockworks, and abaci. Validated by the greatest men of science to be greatly effective on all common members of the household (Meat or Machine!): Windows, doors Apples, fruits, vegetables Telephones, telegraphs Tablets Computers, comptrollers, laborers. A Sample Regimen for the Restoration of Robust Health: —Awaken at the first cock-crow, or with such rapidity as permitted by the ailment. —Before breaking fast, pass the REVIGORATOR’s wand over the afflicted areas with wide stance and hemispherical motions. —Rest, so as to allow the ionizing properties to suffuse the inflamed tissues and humors. If in a frenzied state, draw out any infested bloods until soothed. —If a luncheon should be desired, abstain from doing so, and all other base instincts. —Around tea-time, the infirm should become prone and apply REVIGORATOR to the heart...
This close-up shows the plaque, wand, meter readout (with a missing needle), and a dial with mysterious settings like 750, 300, 150, and OFF.
The device in its case is seen in a gallery setting, with other artworks in the background (see earlier in this thread for details).
#mastoart #retrofuture
This entry was edited (10 months ago)
in reply to Chris Combs (he/him)

Chris Combs (he/him)
Chris Combs (he/him)
• •

also in the show is "Targeting," made with 27 custom display blades. It shows a shimmering silhouette of anything moving in front of it, with bullseyes zeroing in on them.

To me, this replicates the feeling of being overly targeted by personalized ads or algorithms.

Its arrangement is inspired by military radars.

#MastoArt

#mastoart

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