Visual art exhibitions and events with a platform for critical writing
www.webdemographic.com
Reviewed by: Jessica Loseby
Web Demographic is a process-led web artwork by mixed-media experimentalists Talking Birds, as part of the Hothaus commissions from West Midlands-based media art organisation Vivid. The project proposes Ten New Theories About the World which viewers are invited to test before they are finalised in September.
Followers of Talking Birds' growing reputation will not be disappointed by their skilful delivery of sharp, almost surreal, humour within Web Demographic. Unlike so many of the self-absorbed and humourless data-driven creations on offer, 'Web Demographic' has no fear of sniggering at the statistical and process obsessed network. Data used to create the Ten Theories was processed using the Random Raffle (Patent Pending) method. The straight faced satirical delivery of this "first class way of data node reduction" is joyful. The project is mischievous and absorbing as you are invited to test the theories by playing with their evidence.
The paradox of Web Demographic is that play is its greatest strength and weakness. Whilst trying to match an assortment of individuals with their front doors (theory 7: The identity of people in the south east of England is defined by the colour of their doors), I was reminded strongly of my son's enthusiasm for the CBeebies site and its Flash-based 'click and play' entertainment. Similar to many projects within this field of digital practice, it is the 'art' in this artwork that seems weak. Web Demographic lacks the strong visual form or the creeping darkness more typical of previous works. The graphics used in the theories are disappointingly erratic in quality and images sometimes seem to have been added almost as an afterthought. Although Web Demographic is conceptually clever and fun to view and participate in, it continues to beg the question whether all ambitious data-driven projects have to sacrifice aesthetics on the altar of entertainment.
Writer detail:
Jess Loseby is a net and digital artist.
Venue detail:
Vivid - Centre for Media Arts
140 Heath Mill Lane, Birmingham B9 4AR
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