Analog Immigration: Installation
October 25, to December 7, 2013
The Galleries at CSU
Cleveland, OH
As the current Cleveland Foundation Creative Fusion Artist-in-Residence at the Art Department of Cleveland State University, Polish artist Przemyslaw Jasielski created the installation Analog Immigration, on exhibit at the Galleries of Cleveland State University through December 7th, 2013.
In Jasielski’s words: “In my work I’m trying to combine procedures from the art world and the world of science and technology. The main reason for this is that the world today’s world is so saturated with all kinds of technology and technical thinking.
Recently, I came across the idea that science describes the Universe as it is, and art describes the Universe the way you want it to be. I totally disagree with that. I would rather say that both science and art help us to understand the same Universe in different ways. The artist is seeing what others see but from a different perspective. This helps us to observe things with a free, unencumbered eye.
Shortly after coming to Cleveland I realized that Clevelanders have a very specific sense of history. Whereas in Europe historical heritage is grounded in very old things and forgotten times, in Cleveland history is fresh — you can almost taste it or smell it. Most of the people I talked to explained things to me in an historical context, which is a very pleasant surprise to me. What is important is not remembering the good old days and complaining about the present, but to understand history as a continuum from the past to what we have now.
The second inspiration for the project was an idea created by Marc Prensky, the American thinker, dividing mankind into two groups: digital immigrants (individuals who grew up before computers were widely available) and digital natives (all who were born in the digital era).”
Combining these two notions with the very present industrial character of Cleveland, Jasielski came up with the idea of ‘Analog Immigration’ – a travel back-in-time to the period when there were no digital devices. He created an environment that allows viewers to experience the analog era — a place devoid of constant internet access and cell phones. With the help of CSU Sculpture students Jasielski built a cubical wire-mesh structure inside the gallery. This structure, like a Faraday cage, blocks and filters electromagnetic signals including wifi and mobile networks. Additionally, every person entering the show will be asked to leave all digital devices at a checkpoint at the entrance. The installation will be on view through December 7th, 2013.
Prezemyslaw Jasielski received his Masters Degree in Sculpture from Poznan Academy of Fine Arts (1994), where he is now a professor. He creates installations, objects, drawings and photographs combining art with science and technology in ever evolving ways. His most recent piece, Leviathan, a huge object covered with a coating reactive to touch that emits various sounds and vibrations as a result of interaction with the audience, was commissioned by the Polish Minister of Culture for the Malta Festival Poznan (summer 2013). Jasielski was an ArtsLink Fellow in 2004 at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga, CA.
More information on the exhibit here.
Artist’s Website.
