It is a collection of simulated relatives, which has been growing continually since 1996. A series of images, represented by real individuals from the past, are transferred and transformed throughout time and analysed by human faculty and machine capability.
Artificial models of personality are leading a never-ending battle between Feelings and Technology, Beauty and Ugliness. This can be read as a metaphor, or as a fact.
Concept
"Digital Mutations" is an exploration, an appeal to get the feel of memory amputation and revival via memorial photography.
Two analysts of digital art set up this examination intending to influence the viewer by the object itself. It's an attempt to create a new point of perception not by objective seeing but by subconscious cognition. Through the relationship of images and patterns, this collection invites us to question the truth of human identity.
Claudia
Probst
Michael Shpaizman
Michael Shpaizman
The history of Digital Mutations:
Publication on vinyl EP
Marc Marcovic - Ein Lied with remixes from Christian Kleine, Si-Cut.db,
T. Raumschmiere und Rechenzentrum
Fein
Raus http://www.feinraus.orgMarc Marcovic called Marc Weiser from Rechenzentrum. Amongst these electronic audio-visuell project he is occupied with the language and the transport of information beyond the linguistic meaning.
Sometimes the heros of his stories are shortlived, one going into another, sometimes one of them staying the whole night, carried away in the recollection of the audience. Marc Marcovic and the hero are interpreted by the audience as one person. In mind they identify the hero with Marc Marcovic, expound his stories while Marc Marcovic interpret the narrater.
Exhibition on http://www.pixelmuseum.com
Publication in the book from George Whale & Naren Barfield
"Digital printmaking", A&C Black London 2002
Groupexhibition in “Maou - Maou Gallery” Berlin, december '01
The PODGallery (New York City, USA) offering you a showcase with
"Digital Mutations". Since March 2001 pictures are on sale.
http://www.podgallery.combit by bit digital art exhibition HONORABLE MENTION in category "Still image", October 15 - November 19, 2000
http://www.bitbybitdigital.org
Exhibition "AVE" fashion-fair, Berlin sept. '99
Internetpresentation http://www.blondmag.com
Exhibition in "Juliette's Literatursalon", Berlin april '98 - june '98 Groupexhibition "Farbfoto Center Berlin", february '98
Videoinstallation "Speed", Berlin 12'97
Presentation des "Pixel 2. Digital Imaging Award" Kodak, MacWorld 1997 in Duesseldorf
Publication in "Designers Digest" Nr.63 "Illustration made in Germany" dezember '97
Groupexhibition "Spielwiese im o.z.i.p." Pratergarten in Berlin, august '97
Groupexhibition with BFF and KODAK "PIXEL 2. Digital Imaging Award 97" in july '97
Publication in "PAGE" 6'97
Publication in "Screen" 4'97
Publication "Typografica 2/Cybertype""
Publication in "shift!" issue 0/96, artmagazine in Berlin
Publication in MacMagazin 11/96 about the winner of Multimedia Competition MacWorld '96 Frankfurt and publication on CD Rom.
MacWorld 1996 Frankfurt 2. prize animation & presentation award, B&K Gruppe Wuppertal, Formac and Adobe Systems
Cebit 1996 Hannover 3. prize graphic competition, Lasermaster Europe Ltd.
Cebit 1996 Hannover 6. prize Fractal Design Graphic competition
April 1995 5.prize in graphic competition, MacMagazin
Comments
Vladimir Guzman
A Challenge to the Imagination
On "Digital Mutations"
by Claudia Probst and Michael Shpaizman
Upon seeing Claudia Probst and Michael Shpaizman's "Digital Mutations", one's spontaneous first though is, "How would that have been with me?" Just the thought of the possibility of being deformed gives rise to a certain fear - an anxiety about one's own identity and genetic uniqueness, I would say. This primal fear, an instinct which can be described and explained in manifold intellectual-analytic or conceptual ways, acts, in my view, as a "negative catharsis", as an awakening in the midst of the "no-mercy reality" of the Final Judgment.
The viewer might ask, "How secure and unique is our individual self, anyway?" - by this is meant the person in and of itself, the Adamic prototype, even the Creator himself. "What will remain of us? How will our descendants understand us (if at all)?"
One senses that there is a dark, fully opaque force which mercilessly relativizes our own suggestive aura, thereby blighting also the whole vital energy that constitutes it historically.
One cannot escape the profound responses provoked by "Digital Mutations", however one may judge it on an ethical-aesthetic level. The viewer experiences a very particular kind of feeling in his gut while his/her attention is focused on the creatures and creations of Michael and Claudia. All of them are, beyond all doubt, alien beings - something which ontologically doesn't belong to humanity ... or does it?
La dance macabre - is this not the fitting notion for these hideous mutants? In this sense there may be a philosophical reflection of Jeffry Deitsch's post-human art concept here, wherein the artist is to shape the human body genetically/ biotechnologically, in accordance with models of beauty (classical statues, supermodels, etc.).
The design of "Digital Mutations" is rough, arouses anxiety. At the same time, though, it is sweet, familiar, intimate, and colorful.
"Digital Mutations" leaves a big question mark, compels us toward a more intensive reflection, toward a more fundamental response to arbitrariness as a principle of creation. Or is that just the challenge of art?
Links
http://www.alessandrobavari.com
http://www.levitated.net
http://www.markryden.com
http://www.zonezero.com Joel-Peter Witkin
http://www.daguerre.org
http://www.pixelmuseum.com
http://1prise2tetes.free.fr/imaginaires/
http://www.redberger.com
http://www.deathtothepixels.com
http://www.brittle-bones.com
http://www.digitalsouls.com
http://www.photomontage.com
http://www.kimstringfellow.com
http://www.hanuman.co.jp/monkeys
http://www.vimudeap.de
http://www.tigerlily.nl
http://www.yenz.com