Upstream Image (2022)
Photographic series, 84cm x 118cm, Glicee prints on fine art photo rag.
Real-time computer simulation, infinite duration, HD, customised executable software, live soundtrack.
What happens in the life span of an image before it appears for a fraction of a second on our screens? Upstream Image (2022) is a photographi series and real-time computer simulation of a data center used for rendering images for the cinema, TV, advertising and architectural visualation industries. Located on a disused military airbase in Iceland, the site uses geothermal energy to power intense computational processing occurring 24/7.
The recreation of the data center site is programmed to appear mid-render, an un-finished and yet to be computed state of image limbo. Noisy black voids of the terrain, sky and architecture randomly cut into the space, referencing the visuals a CGI artist will see when watching images rendered in a CGI software interface.
An electromagnetic frequency mic placed near the graphics card displaying the work provides a live soundtrack.