Combining High and Low Technology

Imagedrome has explored kinetic movement in a purely digital form, however, their work does not have the same tactile and aesthetic appeal of kinetic artists who produce three dimensional physical mechanical objects and sculptures. The interactive dimension of kinetic art is generally regarded as a precursor to the digital and computer art of today. I prefer the work of non-digital kinetic artists or designers who have combined the two elements of high and low technology.

Techart Group's "Office Live" is an interactive chain-reaction installation that consists of a series of four interconnected units. "Office Live" is an attempt to use the concept of kinetic art to represent the characteristics of modern office automation as well as the working life of the human involved.

The core concept is that the modern office, under a standard management procedure and automated office network and system management, has become a self-organizing and self-generating organism. The theme of "Office Live" is represented via the working environment of an office and its essential elements. The four units personified a fish manager, creative concept staff, work executor, and administrative staff respectively. Each installation is set on "standby" and "ready to activate". The "fish manager" plays the role of an immediate domino effect activator. By printing work instructions automatically from a printer and activating various devices sequentially, such as reviving the crumpled papers scattered on the desktop or automatically activating the screen, instantly switching the desktop from private personal tools to a ready workstation. Finally, during the whole process of reporting back to the fish manager, an automated working life circle is completed. There are no actual human involvement and activation throughout the entire process. The activation of the office scene domino effect is done through the swimming of the fish manager.



The four chain units consist of an interactive fish tank with a live fish, self-running crumpled papers, self-playing CDROM player and a desk with changing projected images. The Rube Goldberg Machine and Kinetic Art inspire the concept of this chain-reaction installation, but the interactive technical skills enhance the power of chain-reaction and make the installation more dynamic.