Panel Statement
Panel: The Big Bang of Electronic Art: Merging Abstraction and Representation in the Age of Digital Imaging
Other Frames’ investigates issues of representation in photography and video within a digital framework, and specifically the issue of formerly unseen work being exposed through a combination of digital and analog means. In particular to my practice are the places where digital and analogue meet. This is an area of photography which I have found to be lacking in research currently, but emerging in practice at this time. The specific area of research that I have focused on is in looking at Constructivist Conceptualizations around Abstraction using the digital camera and computer as the tools. The focus of this has been on the computer chip within a digital camera, and how this can be manipulated with frames that are in between, or not really part of the actual logical frame rate pattern. Through practicing techniques of movement with a digital camera, I have focused on investigating the place where the digital chip stops working properly, where it cannot handle the workload it is being given. The importance of this issue is based on the current discourse around the photographic image, and post photographic context around the recording of memory. I have looked at commentary and work of artists within both digital and analogue spaces around abstractive photographic practice, and analyzed how these two areas of practice sometimes actually find areas of similarity, both with regard to methodology as well as the final result. In terms of the specific artistic practice related to this research, I have worked on creating pieces where the final outcome has been specifically focused on active work around a combined digital-analogue practice.
- Malcolm Levy is an artist, curator and filmmaker living in Vancouver, Canada. He was the Curator of CODE Live at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where he oversaw the installation of over 40 interactive media artworks and 8 performances across the city. Working primarily in experimental film, new media and documentary, his projects include co-founding Capital Magazine (1999-2005) and the New Forms Festival (1999-present), undertaking projects for CBC Radio 3, and writing or curating for Mobile Muse, and Horizon Zero among others. Levy’s curatorial, presentation, film and video installation works have been presented in India, Australia, China, Germany and Canada at such organizations and festivals as Sarai, Next Wavie, the INIAF, MUTEK, VIDFEST, the FCMM, Club Transmediale and the AND Festival. Feature length documentaries include Shambhala (2001-2008) and Walking on Glass (2006-2010). Current projects include pursuing an MA in Media Studies at the New School in New York, developing a media lab for the grunt gallery in Vancouver, the Goethe Satellite Project, and producing a series of commissioned artworks for urban screens in connection with Mcluhan in Europe 2011. Malcolm is the co-Founder of the contemporary art group Revised Projects.
Full text (PDF) p. 1517-1521