You; Me & the TV [and everything in between] by Maria Teresa Cabral
The project involves a videographic installation planned for a small room on a art gallery/museum environment. The installation would comprise a series of TV sets, piled somewhat chaotically, on a corner of the room (several televisions, referring to different technology types, both modern and vintage), and a damaged TV set, isolated on a contiguous corner.
The screens would show videos of natural catastrophes, edited in a frenetic mode (few frames from one scene mixed with frames from other scenes; flickering), in order to create an intense and stimulating visual effect.
A camera would also be installed on the ceiling (dissimulated), which would show images from the visitors, creating a surprise effect among the natural catastrophes’ images. This would pose questions about identity and the cause-effect role.
PHASE #1 | Research Filipa Cordeiro . Hugo Espada . Maria Teresa Cabral
1.1 ... Massive Change accessed April 1st, 2008
This Project starts as a collaboration between Bruce Mau and the Institute without Boundaries. The goal is to test the skills and the limitations of the human being on the collective effort to make the world a better place. The ability and power of design to change our lifestyle is explored: knowing that it is a lot of times invisible to most of us, to what extent can design change us?
As a result of this, via the different media sources (an exhibition, a book, a radio show, among others), the modern world abilities are expressed.
Groening, Matt [November 2002] "Futurama - Crimes of the Hot" - episode 8, 4th season
The animated tv series "Futurama", from the same creator as "The Simpsons" talks, this episode, about global warming. The worries are the same as today's, but the reality is quite different, since it takes place in the future, in a world where robots are also to blame for the warming of the planet. Such unpredictable elements as this, or the weird solutions found to solve the problem, are an humouristic approach to the subject, however it keeps the problem in our minds. Confirming the contemporariness and likelihood of this episode, the cast includes the special appearance of Al Gore, although, not in a way we're used to see him
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Schneckenburger, Manfred, Fricke, Christiane, Honnef, Claus [2005] Arte do Século XX, Colónia, Taschen, pp. 611-619
It proposes an approach to the history of art, video and multimedia, including its genesis and the showcase of some practises from the 80’s and 90’s. Several names and approaches, in which the new media served as the vehicle for controversial messages, are suggested and referenced. An example that we find relevant is the work of Jenny Holzer who, using the new technologies, subverted the public with enigmatic messages, that caused reactions coming from people unaware of the galleries’ ideology, making them question themselves.
Cuarón, Alfonso [2006] Children Of Men
This sci-fi picture seems to digress from the theme, the environment, but it is, indeed, deeply related to it. We are presented an apocalyptic world in which Men cannot repruduce anymore (as a result of various genetic experiences). In this scenario of desolation, where grey and dust prevail, one woman carries in her womb the possibility of new human life.
The movie is innovative, with intense scenes produced in a single take, creating great impact in moviegoers. It presents important questions about progress and technology, and the paradox they carry: if, on one hand, they lead Humanity to hyperdeveloped socities, on the other hand they can lead to a progressive apathy towards the roots of life, and end up eradicating it.
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... Dia Art Foundation, accessed 29th March 2008
This foundation has financed various art projects rlated to nature.
In the "sites" button (in the menu on the top) there are links to projects of contemporary artists. All those projects have a touch of bizarre. Walter de Maria's "Earthroom", for instance, consists of an art gallery room full of dust. These projects question man's relationship with nature, and the degrees of mediation that come between them in contemporary society.
Water Tribune - Expo 2008
The Water Tribune is the school of thought which has been created, parallel to the visual, cultural and leisure elements of the Expo in response to the requirements of an International Exposition which stems from the will to stimulate reflection, debate and a search for solutions in relation to water and sustainability. To compile and synthesize universal knowledge in order to contribute to the reorientation and improvement of the current models and systems in place regarding water and sustainable development for the 21st century, from the perspective of innovation. This objective will be attained through the development of a series of activities (Themed weeks, Events and Parallel Meetings) and the participation of the most relevant international people from today’s water scene.
