Alien
Alien is an installation made out of several objects. The objects resemble some sort of viewing instrument such as a pair of binoculars. It has two circular lenses which are lit up with LEDs. The LEDs are controlled with micro processors, which create an animated effect where eyelids seem to close, the ‘eyes’ blink. The blinking sequence is random. The small processor is programmed to create random blinking frequencies, as well as random periods where there is no light, to create a blinking situation that mimics a person’s eyelid blinking frequency. At various moments the eyes stay shut for a random length of time. Each eye unit is separately programmed to create a sense of individuality. The eyes are placed out, alone or in groups, on various sites in a public space or gallery situation.
When we see two round lamps next to each other we read it as eyes. The large circular shapes, of Alien, which also shine in darkness we would normally find in the world of cartoons, computer games and animated movies. Here we find them in our reality. When they are placed in public space, in a dark corner of a street, the lit up eyes can have a frightening effect. It gives a feeling that someone or something is watching you, before you realise their unreal shape and the fact that the eyes emit light. Alien plays with reality and the unreal. In a world where we spend a lot of time in virtual realms of digitally manufactured situations perception can be blurred. A question lingers: Who or what are the alien objects?
2014
Material: acrylic glass, LEDs, micro processor, tripod
Dimensions: 17 x 6 x 6 cm (without tripod)
Programming and electronic design: Mario Keller
