visit investment:mexico

design

I was asked to participate in an “art exchange” program that would put American artwork in university galleries throughout Mexico and vice versa. Delighted by the invitation but weary of the traditional “fine arts” and “gallery atmosphere” I wanted to do something the that would be free of both. Assuming that it would impolite to require universities in Mexico to install and setup a/v equipment for the works of some unknown American but not wanting to un-abandon traditional medium I came to what I considered an appropriate compromise.

process

I made a 4×10” canvas, primed it white and stenciled a web address in black. Once the gallery goers returned home they could experience the complete work. In other words, I invested the people of Mexico with the opportunity to decide the extent of their involvement in the work.

result

The viewer didn’t need to go to a gallery for the experience, in fact the gallery experience was intentionally restricted. Nor did they need to worry about intellectualizing or internalizing any part of the experience, it’s just something to play with.

note

Before I even understood the idea of “open source” I made the original Macromedia Director files for both parts available for download. In hindsight it was a terrifically bad decision to use Director. I think it’d be a fun project to port to javascript one of these days.