Information
Ben Rubin >
»Listening Post«, 2003 - 2003
Co-Workers & Funding:
Image courtesy of The Science Museumhttp://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/galleries/~/link.aspx?_id=1731961DCC364506BE31CC1FE956DC68&_z=z
Technology
Installation Requirements / Space
Mark Hansen and Ben Rubin's Listening Post immerses us in a rhythm of computer-synthesised voices reading, or singing out, a fluid play of real-time text fragments. The fragments are sampled from thousands of live, unrestricted internet chatrooms, bulletin boards and other online public forums. They are uncensored and unedited. Stray thoughts resonate through the space in sound and voice as texts surge, flicker, appear and disappear, at varying sizes and speeds, across a suspended grid of over 200 small electronic screens. An ambient soundtrack accompanies the activity with isolated pulses reminiscent of computer modems, clatterings, footsteps and the beeping of mechanical answering machines. At intervals darkness and silence take over, creating momentary pauses before Listening Post continues with its next movement.
Descriptions & Essays
Listening Post is situated in the permanent collections of the Science Museum, South Kensington, London, and is on site loan to the Decode exhibition. It can be viewed on the first floor of the Science Museum.
Listening Post has been presented to the Science Museum by The Art Fund.
Literature
Onedotzero. Motion Blur 2: Multidimensional Moving Imagemakers. London, UK: Laurence King Publishing, 2009.
Beddard, Honor and Douglas Dodds. V and A Pattern: Digital Pioneers. London: V and A Publishing, 2009.
Catherine Mason. A Computer in the Art Room: The Origins of British Computer Arts
1950-1980. Norfolk, UK: JJG Publishing, 2008.
Onedotzero. Motion Blur: Graphic Moving Imagemakers Publishers. London, UK: Laurence King Publishers, 2006.
Exhibitions & Events