Link to Rhizome:
http://rhizome.org/object.php?49318
Visit the artwork here:
http://www.paulcatanese.com/artwork/misplaced/index.html#
Misplaced Reliquary (2004) by Paul Catanese is a piece of digital artwork that combines the internet, gaming technology and a touch of old world nostalgia. The project was commissioned by Rhizome.org. Essentially, Misplaced Reliquary is a collection of images of animal bones. The bones are set up as if they were the prized collection of a well known biologist or field researcher. However, the images are displayed on a portable game system called a Gameboy Advance. In the gallery where this artwork was displayed a field journal is placed next to the game system, explaining and describing each item displayed within the Gameboy. The description of each item includes field notes, where the item was found, what the item is, and any other scientific description. The images are downloadable onto anyone's personal Gameboy Advance. Therefore, this artpiece is portable, and can only be viewed in the way the artist originally intended. Online the images can be viewed on a virtual Gameboy Advance. The fieldnote journal is also entirely visible and readable online.
What is most interesting is the combination of elements within this piece of artwork. While viewing the images one might think that they are looking at a collection of pieces that would be found directly in a Natural History museum. What works best about this piece is its portability as a piece. Its capable of being viewed in the context it was originally meant for. Anyone can own this piece within their own Gameboy Advance. I think that the artist is trying to bring a museum like gallery into a place that is usually meant for gaming interaction. But this alone brings interaction into the piece. The viewer controls which images to view and where to view them. virtually bringing a pocket collection wherever they go.
This exhibition brings many of the digital imaging elements such as internet and technology. Even the photographs are made through digital photography. Paul Catanese even remarks that he was interested in exploring the idea of gaming through the "hunt". In this way he searched for fragments of bone much like a biologist might do. I suppose what he means by hunting, is that in many games one is in search of something. So he incorporates a real life hunt, then displays his findings within a gaming device.
This is really neat - I love how he's taken something so revered as an archeological exhibit and taken it down to such an informal medium. A museum piece you have to go find and abide by the museum rules (don't touch, don't get to close, don't take photos, etc). But the Game Boy is so prevalent and personalized that you can poke, prod, and explore as much as you want.
ReplyDeleteIt's also interesting because the Game Boy was only the beginning of personalized mobile computing. Now with iPhones, net books, and wireless connectivity anyone can have the entire collective knowledge of the Smithsonian at their fingertips.