Work, Place. – a wireless internet performance.
Aim
For a group of people, using wireless internet technologies and laptops, to emulate a working ‘office’ within the confines of a chalked office plan on a pavement.
Apparatus
connection to a wireless internet node, laptops, wi fi cards, people, chalk,
Method
1. connect to a wireless node using your laptop
2. connect your laptop to the wi fi internet signal
3. decide on the parameters and physical boundaries of your work environment
4. using chalk, mark an office plan on the floor of the pavement marking entrance and exit points
5. work within the confines of the chalked plan connecting to the internet for the duration you choose
6. up load a page, documenting the duration of the work, using images, video, or text of the time you have spent working as an 'office'
7. when you have completed your work, exit the chalked space and switch off your laptops
8. leave the chalked plan on the floor of the pavement
Results
Document the work during the performance using images or text and upload a web page to the internet .
This piece called 'Work, Place.' drew an ergonomically accurate office plan onto the pavement in chalk outside the Architectural Association in London, drawing a doorway, table and optimal spatial arrangement of chairs.
The team then up loaded the instructions to the internet of how to repeat the performance working as an 'office' in the street. The anntenna on the roof of the AA transmitted a wireless signal which was accessed from the pavement.
The video is approximately 1 hour and is a made real time sycnchronised split screen.
This conceptual drawn work looked at the then forthcoming idea in and aroud wireless technology.
At this point the idea of wireless internet was quite extraordinary, with people often requiring detailed explanations about it. Connecting to an international network via a wireless computer was extremely unusual.
Following this performance work I was invited to participate in the first Locative Media workshop in Latvia in 2003.
This work was featured at the Tate Modern as part of Wireless Cultures.
VIDEO LECTURE 1 TATE MODERN 2003
Here is a presentation of work at the Tate. A day long symposium and the presentation is section 4.