Hong Kong, August 4, 2016 18:30 – 20:00, http://www.springworkshop.org
An artist talk by Tyler Coburn. Coburn wrote a book in which a schizophrenic writer-for-hire is fantasizing about the internet cloud, what it is, where it is and what it means (based on Coburns personal experience as a writer-for-hire). Coburn then organized readings from his book in data centers worldwide (mostly U.S. and Europe). In the talk, Coburn explained the basics of data centers, stressing mostly the mysterious and sensational facts to keep it interesting. Then he played back video of a recorded reading (he asks actors to do the readings) in an empty google data center. Then he showed a couple of documentary pictures and shared a couple of anecdotes from other readings he did and ended by reading a half-page long quote from his book.
Coincidentally on my way to the talk I happened to be reading an interview with James Bridle and it resonated with the talk. It helped to located Coburn’s practice in the realm of post-internet corporate mash-up art, appropriating more or less cynically bits and pieces of the ubiquitous digital nature.
