I had the opportunity to create Freefall, a site-specific video installation, as a new digital art commission for the launch of the ICA New Media Centre by the ICA and Sun Microsystems.
Freefall is a visual sting which draws a parallel between the virtual and physical worlds - drawing a direct link between the physical and virtual (digital) space. The various visual elements of the Freefall short videowork are made up from the ICA’s plans for the New Media Centre and text drawn primarily from the Theory of Derive by the Situationiste Internationale. The urban activity of derivé - or ‘drifting’ - is transposed into the virtual space with Freefall. Freefall can be seen as the virtual equivalent of derivé, which is used here to illuminate and comment on the relationship between physical and virtual terrain.
The installation builds on the sting by producing a panoramic screen centred on the looping video, and bordered on the left and right by stills projections of text based on the ‘virtual derivé’ of freefall. The text based within the video is complemented by the projected text which contextualises the work.
Devised by Matt Hanson.
Produced by onedotzero.
Designed and executed by state.
Text: Theory of Derivé - Guy Debord and Situationiste Internationale.
Additional text: Matt Hanson.
Team: Mark Breslin, Matt Hanson, Mark Hough, Philip O’ Dwyer, Shane RJ Walter.