wave writer: vital forces #2
Trish Adams' Wave Writer: Vital Forces #2 was recently presented as part of the ISEA2004 Tallinn program at The Art Museum of Estonia's Rotermann Salt Storage exhibition hall. It was an appropriate choice of venue for this installation for a number of reasons. Firstly, the structure was originally built for the storage and manufacture of salt, a substance extracted from the ocean. In addition, the location of the exhibition is only a couple of blocks from the port of Tallinn , on the Baltic Sea. Another feature of the building that resonates when considering this installation is its appearance of age-the architectural style belies the fact it was constructed in 1908. By looks alone, one would think that it was much older, an easy mistake to make in a location that boasts the best-preserved medieval architecture in Europe.
Metaphorical associations to the ocean and the history of architecture aside, these elements reinforce a range of issues inherent in Wave Writer: Vital Forces #2. At first glance, this installation appears to be a semblance of discarded bits of technology, a museum exhibit of dated hardware. However, initial perceptions can be deceiving. Although the work is constructed from, and uses a form of 'old technology', the way it works as an interactive and haptic device offers a sense of play and engagement for the user that is firmly situated in the here and now. By Adams' use of technology from the past to critique human/computer interaction, she is able to approach contemporary themes that are central to discussions in new media, particularly in relation to issues of accessibility and usability.
The work is activated by participants pumping a foot pedal, or