This is a representational work that focuses on the subject of internet availability and use, particularly videos of couples making out. This work is certainly a new media, as it contains technology within technology. It really does not convey any traditional art, especially with the unorthodox picture of hundreds of pairs making out.
The colors of the work are widely varied based on the millions of videos that are included in the piece, however the shape is very important. the shape of the viewer directly affects what is seen. The portion that the viewer is covering based on the computerized surveillance system is the only one to move, showing the pairs kissing. the other part is unlit and still. The new technology is more powerful than traditional media because it further conveys the artist's message.
The work serves to comment on the power of the modern internet-user. When the viewer is out of the view of the camera, the screen shows only couples looking at each other, but when he or she moves into the line of the surveillance system, the couples begin to kiss. based on the amount of coverage of the screen, the viewer can choose the proportion of man-man, woman-woman, or man-woman kissing based on the coverage of the screen. Lozano is commenting on the ability of the modern computer owner to quickly access any information, including sensitive videos. In addition, the video can stream for 8 months without looping. This means that 8 months worth of short clips of couples making out exists online. Lozano is also attempting to comment on the gargantuan amounts of information available online.
Citations:
"Make Out." Rafael Lozano-Hemmer.
http://www.lozano-hemmer.com/make_out.php
The piece can be viewed here: http://www.lozano-hemmer.com/videos/artwork/makeout.mp4
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Did you think it was a weird choice of subject? I wonder if he's done other similar pieces with a different subject matter.
ReplyDeleteI really like your analysis of this piece - when we went, I missed the tourguide's explanation behind the piece. After reading your explanation, I think that the artist is also commenting on what we find entertaining in this generation, as well as how we act(especially celebrities) when we know people are watching. When I saw this piece, I did hear that the most common videos online of people kissing are girl-on-girl, which suggests that our generation finds this intriguing and unusual, because very few people want to watch something they see all the time on the internet. This almost adds to the alienation of homosexual pairs because of the added attention provided by these videos; it makes it seem like the audience is watching animals in a zoo, which is not how we should view anyone different. The fact that the pairs only kiss when a viewer is in range comments that actors, or the people providing the entertainment, will do things they normally wouldn't to please an audience. This makes me think about fake celebrity couples for some reason.
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