This is a collaborative project with Troy Richards created for UD@Crane’s “Information Translated” exhibition in Philadelphia, PA, October, 2009.

In discussing his work Gary Hill described, in Deluzean terms, that “The viewer experiences a catastrophe that is its own inversion, ‘the destruction and emergence of individuality at the same point’ where not only the individual, but the possibility of narrative and history as well both emerge and disappear in the same space; this is an artistic experience as event horizon.”

We came across this quote well into our collaborative project, Vanishing Point, but it seems an apt description. Vanishing Point begins with the momentary construction of narrative using a cinematic trope– the view from the driver’s seat of a vehicle traversing the landscape towards and endlessly receding horizon. The illusion of this receding horizon is actually created by a trick of reflection, the camera views itself viewing itself on a computer monitor. Before it can develop further an explosion that cuts the cinematic journey short abruptly disrupts the narrative. The scene fades to black and then begins again in an endless loop that is constructed and re-constructed in real time. The brief video is displayed on a monitor that only partially conceals the miniature (and abstract) landscape upon which the narrative event occurs.

View of piece as installed at UD@Crane in Philadelphia, PA.

Materials include: Legos, Arduino Micro-controller, Apple G4, 2 Monitors, Digital Prints, Audio Amplifier, Air Compressor, Air Solenoid, USB Camera, Firewire Camera, Fan, Lights, Wood, Wire and Electronics.

View of the DV camera mounted to the Lego® Car, riding in the track toward the monitor.

View of Arduino micro-controller and breadboard controlling the motor speed and direction, air solenoid, lights, and reverse-stop switch.

View of car in track heading toward the monitor.