Static Frames

O.5 black pen, Tracing paper

I began researching static televisions and the images they created. I was fascinated by the infinite amount of forms that could be created and began to study them intently. I wanted to harness and control the essence of the images that static televisions created and reform them myself.

Static: Public Art Project

Static Video, Installed in Comet Shop Window, Dumbarton Road, Friday 22nd May.

I wanted to display my Static video as a public art work and the best way to do this seemed to have it playing in an electrical equipment store. I wanted the work to go unnoticed as much as possible.

When the video is looked at closely, you can tell certain aspects of it are not quite right. There are enough visual clues to suggest this is not just conventional static interference. The image tends to repeat over, only once you look at this for an extended amount of time you realise that this static is not constantly creating new images and forms. Also, LCD Televisons do not recieve static interference.

This thought of playing the static on improper equipment became the inspiration for creating my slide projector piece, consisting of a slide projector displaying static interference.

Hand Drawn Static Public Artwork Publication

The only condition for allowing me to display my static in the Comet store shop front, was that I supply a publication or some kind of literature to accompany the work. The Manager was concerned that people may just assume these televisons were broken, so he wanted some kind of visual aid to explain the work to the customer.

A pile of these cards were left in the store for anyone to take away.

Static Slides

Static Slide Projector

Slide Projector, Hand Drawn static Slides

The same ideas from my public art work were applied in the creation of this work. By recreating the visual qualities of static interference and showing them through a medium which static has no association, it has a skewed almost humorous effect. Much like the LCD televisons in Comet which do not transmit static interference.

The Static Slide Projector consists of a full reel of 80 slides in all and are in constant motion. The image changes roughly every second and when looked at for an extended period of time, a trance like state comes over the viewer and gives the impression of static interference.