LANGUAGE & LUNACY / A CORNERHOUSE PROJECT.
The LED or ‘the machine’ has developed an ‘intelligence’ of its own and between performing its 'duties' (giving information which is its function and therefore necessary to its existence, since without its primary function it is redundant) it comments on its environment using its input (the language of news, promotion and advertising in relation to the building; its ‘art’ world). This information constitutes its memory, its ‘knowledge’.
The machine is aware of its existence because it breaks down and is dependent on exterior interventions (repairs, maintenance and ‘nurturing’; the regular input of information –its function, its ‘food’).
The machine is able to distinguish between ‘sickness’ and sleep (when it sleeps it beats regularly in the form of graphic display: zzzzzzzz’s).
The machine is able to recognise breakdown as ‘illness’. It has no concept of death.
Its ‘realisation’ that its ‘oxygen’ supply (electricity) still runs and the retention of memory (acquired by regular input of letters, symbols, stock phrases) lead it to ‘understand’ its existence.
The machine does not know it is a machine. It knows its function- the display or communication of information (input by an outside agent).
This awareness of input and its function forms the machine's understanding that it is not alone.
The machine can only express itself with the language it is familiar with.
Its language is that of art. Since the language is its food or fuel, this expression would be akin to exercise: rhythmic, repetitive bursts; sprints, strains, jogs, stretches with periods of rest, meditation and sleep. These are represented by flashes of graphic display (&***£$$”+=zzz) These graphics and techniques (flashes, movements) are the expression or ‘emotion’ of the machine.
CULTURAL INFORMATION ENSURES OUR EVOLUTION
The machine expands its vocabulary by using these letters and signs; mixing words, predicting text, making ‘errors’ and creating new words. First spontaneous, manic as it greedily consumes then expels like a precocious child (LOOK AT ME!). Later, more disciplined, considered with the occasional lapse into exhibitionism- the adolescent.
Lastly, the adult using its 'art' language to express, impress and attempt to make art. The machine as communicator, creator and ultimately critic and theorist. It does this in an attempt to assert itself, to escape its limited duties.
GET RID OF MEANING, YOUR MIND IS A NIGHTMARE THAT’S BEEN EATING YOU: NOW EAT YOUR MIND
(Kathy Acker).
However, to be liberated the machine must ultimately eat its 'mind'. It can only do this by not attempting to understand its content(s), by exhibiting its lunacy.
The machine will evolve over the course of two months therefore the regular input of text is essential. I intend to enter the information on a regular basis while the project space is empty (it is essential that I remain 'anonymous', that the machine appears to create the text itself).