Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 18:13:57 -0400
Subject: ec-satyricOn 2000
From: "Joseph Nechvatal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
For Immediate Release
Joseph Nechvatal
ec-satyricOn 2000
October 26 - December 02
Universal Concepts Unlimited announces the opening of "ec-satyricOn 2000 (enhanced)+ bodies in the bit-stream (compliant)" a digital-based exhibition of recent work by Joseph Nechvatal, on Thursday, October 26 from 6-8 PM.
Since 1985, Joseph Nechvatal has been exploring what he calls the Œviractual¹ image; a complex numeric image which consists of a mixture of drawing, digital-photography, painting, written language, and externalized computer code - all of which is submitted to computational manipulations (including viral attacks). Based loosely around passages from a cyber-sex farce novella he wrote in Paris called "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~venus©-~Ñ~vibrator, even" - and from certain passages from Gaius Petronius Arbiter¹s (~27-66 AD) book Satyricon, this exhibition puts forth a mingling of the virtual, the aesthetic, and the sexual.
The exhibition consists of six large computer-robotic assisted paintings which, together, create a sweeping, immersive environment. Also, a specially rubber-bound example of "~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~venus©-~Ñ~vibrator, even" will be on display, as well as a suite of unique digital prints from the "code x" series, and a dvd animated puppet show.
Nechvatal¹s stated intentions are to pictorially integrate the occurrence of the loss of subjectivity as experienced in sexual transport and sexual fantasies with the philosophical loss of sovereignty typical of the disembodied finesse encountered when immersed in virtual space. Here - for example with the loss of body consciousness specific to total-immersion within a virtual reality environment - one frequently senses a transport dissolution moving consciousness away from nature, even while developing a slightly ridiculous, Fellini-like, human self-consciousness.
In encounters with virtualizing digitization, representations of carnal pulp used in fleshing-out "ec-satyricOn 2000" (primarily female silicon-implanted breasts, Nechvatal¹s testicles, various labia, elbows, knees, and the posterior glutinous maximus of both sexes - some procured on-line, others via digital photographic techniques) are turned diaphanous through various reproductive digital processes and synthetic maneuvers - including viral attacks. The programming used to enact the computer viral attacks was developed by Nechvatal in 1992-3.
Joseph Nechvatal has exhibited his work widely in Europe and the United States, both in private and public venues. He is in the permanent collection of the Los Angeles County Museum, the Moderna Musset in Stockholm and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. His web-site, with full CV and collected writings, can be found at: http://www.dom.de/arts/artists/jnech/
For further information contact UCU @ 212.727.7575 and/or see artist statement at: http://www.intelligentagent.com/satyricon.html
Universal Concepts Unlimited
507 West 24th Street
@ 10th Ave
New York, NY 10011
http://www.U-C-U.com
Tel: 212.727.7575 Fax: 212.727.7676 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
