Art, media, and technology

Art Media and Technology

The work was observed at the 2009 FIAC exhibition in Paris. The title is "Lines of Crimes: The Real Dope is Virtual Money" by artist Peter Weibel. It is a mixed media installation, created during 2009. It is a three-dimensional work, resembling a small television screen. The dimensions can be estimated at 60x40cm, with a depth of about 20cm. The color of the box is dark grey, with a smooth glass screen covering it. Inside, at the bottom of the box, a photo of four men is displayed. They are in the foreground, each drinking from a glass of champagne, as if celebrating something. The two persons closest to the camera are only partially displayed, with the one on the right only showing part of a hand and arm. Presumably they are drinking to favorable market figures, as the background displays a variety of financial information. An interesting feature is the graphic depiction of rising values. The graph line itself is made up of a white powder, resembling and clearly meant to represent cocaine or any similar drug. At the highest end of the graph is what looks like a banknote rolled into a type of straw, presumably to use for inhaling the powder. On top of the photo is a credit card apparently dropped carelessly. The title of the piece is apparently suspended over the photo in fairly large, white letters: The words "LINES of CRIMES" are displayed at the top of the photo and "THE REAL DOPE IS VIRTUAL MONEY" at the bottom. The focus of the work, as indeed indicated by its title, is the graphic line ready for use by the presumed addicts in the foreground.

The work is displayed in an interesting manner, placed on the floor of the gallery rather than hanging on the wall like other mixed media and photo displays. Like the credit card, the exhibit is displayed at an angle to the wall; it is displayed in an off-center, skewed way.

The work appears to concern money and its addictive power in the modern financial world. It shows modern financial technology in the form of credit cards and trading technology. The word "virtual" further implies the power of money beyond the physical fact of its substance. Online and card technology has enabled the worldwide, instant movement of money without ever touching cash. The work presents this technology visually by means of the trading figures in the background and the credit card on top of the photo. The position of these displays in relation to the persons in the photo is important in terms of understanding the message of the work. The figures, graphic line, and credit card are in very prominent, clear positions. The credit card is particularly interesting because it creates the illusion of a second foreground in addition to the one in the photo itself. This works concomitantly with the focused background to diminish the already secondary importance of the celebrating human figures. In this way, the work implies that the traders in the foreground has become so entangled in their work, that money has become like a drug to them, taking over the whole of their mind and personality.

The artist made a very interesting selection of media to visually display the message of the work. Any other choice would have diminished the impact of the display. The television format for example indicates the technological advance of money and trading, making it increasingly easy to access from all parts of the world. Had a flat screen be used, the impact of the background and foreground dimensions would not have been as significant. The use of powder for the graph and a real credit car on top of the photo provides further impact in terms of the multi-dimensionality of the work. The combination of elements in the work therefore shows its meaning. Each element of the work leads the visitor to better understand its intended meaning.

The work is highly unusual, not least because of its physical position in the display. The attention is immediately attracted by its position on the floor, and concomitantly by its position in relation to the wall. This graphically represents the message of the work in terms of drugs. Drugs changes a person's perspective of the world. Reality becomes twisted. In this way, the drugs, or virtual money in t his case, change celebration into tragedy. An overindulgence in this drugs leads to distruction. The credit card mimics the position of the entire display. It represents money as a drug. Reality is twisted by the idea of virtual money.

Because of the many different elements that make up the whole, the work could have a variety of effects upon the visitor. Indeed, one might even say that, being multi-dimensional and making use of mixed media, the work has a multi-dimensional effect. As such, while I would not say that the work precisely either attracts or alienates visitors, it certainly would not leave them indifferent.