Exploration: Digital Futures
The Pass - Initial research
iDuring the initial stages of the project Maud, Enam and Ava explored their understanding of the digital world, social media and the internet through discussions which materialised through writing exercises such as streams of consciousness and messages to their future selves, as well as physical movement and dance exercises. Their initial ideas began to form in the shape of an installation made up of wire coat hangers manipulated to create a visual manifestation of the internet. A scrambles of pathways leading into ever more complex patterns and journeys. Labels were then added to include their thoughts from these early conversations. The need to slow down to read the labels and physically move around the installation became interesting points of interaction that were take forward as the project developed.
Community sharing
As with all of our projects we try to take our initial creative research out into the community to share our thoughts and ideas as well as gather further information before it is consolidated into a final exhibition. We were fortunate to be able to do this once again at the Peckham festival. The following is a transcript from the session.
As with all of our projects we try to take our initial creative research out into the community to share our thoughts and ideas as well as gather further information before it is consolidated into a final exhibition. We were fortunate to be able to do this once again at the Peckham festival. The following is a transcript from the session.
Lauren: We have been researching this concept using a range of mediums - creative writing, still images, dance motifs, installations, voice recordings. I wanted to focus on how ideas and feelings can be communicated visually through movement, provoking thought and conversation around any given topic.
Maud: During our research we worked a lot about the pros and cons of our digital world. Looking at how it both consumes us in its fast pace but also provides us with endless access to information and communication. It’s a tool and a weapon. We should be aware of how to use it.
Enam: In the digital world time is merged in past, present and future tenses. We want to show how we break the meaning of time within this capsule, but what does this mean for us in real life?
Ava:There are major advancements in technology and this conversation feels very important right now. Misinformation is another focus of ours, we looked at: fake news, exaggeration of events and misinterpreted messages.
Maud: We merged these ideas into a series of motifs to be filmed. Overall, looking at the digital as a pass to access the web of information, but with a pass always comes limitations.
Maud: During our research we worked a lot about the pros and cons of our digital world. Looking at how it both consumes us in its fast pace but also provides us with endless access to information and communication. It’s a tool and a weapon. We should be aware of how to use it.
Enam: In the digital world time is merged in past, present and future tenses. We want to show how we break the meaning of time within this capsule, but what does this mean for us in real life?
Ava:There are major advancements in technology and this conversation feels very important right now. Misinformation is another focus of ours, we looked at: fake news, exaggeration of events and misinterpreted messages.
Maud: We merged these ideas into a series of motifs to be filmed. Overall, looking at the digital as a pass to access the web of information, but with a pass always comes limitations.
Photographs from the workshop
The Pass
This short experimental film is a primary exploration of our thoughts around the Digital Future. We use improvised movement scenes and film to look at how we pass on messages, time passes us and we passthrough technology. Honing in on how time and reality can be altered online for both personal gain and loss.
Developing the project within the school
To gather further thoughts and ideas from the school community, Maud, Enam and Ava created a mini workshop so all students could share their thoughts on this topic and participate in the physical making of the project. Long strips of acetate were used at the point instead of labels to continue with the idea of repurposing found objects in the art room. The transparency of the acetate sheets also alluded to this online virtual world that isn't quite tangible or fully understandable.