Project Details Go to OpportunitiesBLOCK_CHAIN > THE POWER OF 2 is a process rather than an exhibition, a vehicle rather than a fixed destination, a non-hierarchical container for exchange, evolution and innovation. Borrowing it’s terminology from the blockchain, BLOCK_CHAIN > THE POWER OF 2, seeks to transmute the digital framework into a material reality providing the structure within which artists are invited to explore, in pairs, the broader theme of dissent.
It’s namesake, the blockchain, is a powerful algorithm, initially developed for economic application, supporting the Bitcoin digital currency by providing the framework for each transaction between parties to be logged and recorded in simple transparent fashion. The possibility for application in other forms of exchange has snowballed however and may, if predictions prove right, revolutionise the art world, turning the patron economy on it’s head, stamping out the various nasties of fraud/money laundering etc. while issuing in the holy grail of direct and instant remuneration for creative output. A decentralized powerhouse, it is as simple as it is complex, offering transparency in every transaction, creating an immutable ledger of exchange, outside the grip of any hierarchical system or institution.
‘It can be used as a shield for our collective dissent against institutional hierarchies.’ (Hayase Nozomi 2016)
To many though, it remains a mysterious force, belonging to everyone and no-one, it’s illusive founder, or founders, named yet untraceable, the potential of it’s capacity to gather and assimilate vast quantities of digital information not yet fully appreciated or understood. Like many digital developments that promise to progress our experience of the world, we have no time to reflect, we must first engage to reveal its consequences.
With similar intent, and using this model of transparent documentation as the framework for our process, artists will come together in pairs to explore the concept of dissent. Allowing for broad interpretation, this could be personal, environmental, sociological, or may, as yet, (with the pace of change quickening by the second) evade categorisation.
BLOCK_CHAIN > THE POWER OF 2, invites artists into this process of documented exchange, drawing from the spirit of nonhierarchical transparency that blockchain represents, but embracing with that, the experimental, material and unpredictable language of the artist. Fitting around their practice, artists can engage at whatever level they choose, be that quick, experimental responses, or drawing from previous examples of work.
Rippling out into a multiplicity of transactions, each artist will respond to the theme of dissent, the image of their artwork operating as a catalyst for a further pair, and they, in turn will be invited to engage with each other, before again, passing their work on. The process will be recorded at every point of exchange both on Instagram, and on a dedicated blog site. Images created may be of material, object, text or merely digital expression. Ultimately this online exchange will cross over into the physical world, as the images are formed into a chain of blocks, the display of which will create the starting point for a symposium at Winchester School of Art, bringing artist, students and academics together to explore outcomes of our relationship with dissent.
BLOCK_CHAIN > THE POWER OF 2 is a collaborative process reflective of our ever widening daily interaction with multiple voices which differ from our own. Digital connectivity, travel and communication increasingly influence and stretch our moral and ethical understanding of our world.
‘Through the process of social saturation, we are immersed in a plethora of understandings – the psychological ontologies of varying ethnicities, class strata, geographic sectors, racial and religious groupings, professional enclaves and nationalities.’ (Gergen’ K, in Grodin D. and T. R. Lindlof, 1996)
As artists though, we continue to engage with a language of material and form, with media and concept, an occupation whose very action could be seen as dissent against the hegemonic and economic model of society. BLOCK_CHAIN > THE POWER OF 2 seeks to open up this concept of dissent through various artists eyes, while paying homage to the collaboration and the simple transparent recording of active, creative exchange.
by SUSAN FRANCIS
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References:
Hayase Nozomi, 2016, Cryptography as Democratic Weapon Against Demagoguery, Counterpunch, Available from: https://www.counterpunch.org/2016/07/25/cryptography-as-democratic-weapon-against-demagoguery, Accessed 7th November 2017
Gergen’ K, in Grodin D. and T. R. Lindlof, 1996 ‘Technology and the Self:From the essential to the Sublime, Constructing the Self in a Mediated World’ London, Sage Publications p127
Love the concept.Or what I think is the concept but somewhat turned off by the hyperbole. I use Instagram – tonystyles9541 – and social media, all the same simplicity of language would be helpful here. How can one ‘engage to understand’,’exchange ideas’ even dissent from institutional hierarchies when the language of the brief is not sufficiently user friendly? In my past life, as an
Advertising creative director in London, I endeavoured to direct and design our communication, across all media, to be creatively inclusive. As a local artist – St Mary Bourne – I closely follow and approve of what you are doing.
Best regards Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your expression of support! Most of us at CAS wear many hats, and it strikes me that your comment about accessible language is a reminder to be conscious of which hat you’re wearing and whether it is the right one for the task! When wrapped up in art research or planning it can sometimes be a challenge to change gears. This particular post was written to give some theory and background to the project as a experimental and active art research project. From that angle, the concepts are complicated, and it is only through participating and engaging and aquiring experiential knowledge will the ‘meat’ of the project reveal itself. I’d like to think the open call we advertised on arts ops websites was less hyperbolic – either way, it certainly seems to have done the trick as we have some great artists lined up ready to experiment with the ‘blockchain: power of two’ format through practice and collaboration. It’s a bit of a double-barrelled project really. The Dissent themed Artwork + The Collaboration Framework. Communication across multiple platforms should allow for more variety of communication style. It’s great to hear you are local, and I look forward to further discussion, perhaps we will meet at one of our live events in future. (Blockchain symposium will be 8th of March 😉 )
Maija
Thanks Maija for getting back to me. I hope the project goes well. I still believe that a convoluted brief will produce contrived and precious outcomes. Even though the likes of Jackson Pollock had some Jungian basis to his mid and latter work it was still a subconscious,as it happened result on canvas.I would like to come along to one of your live events in the future to see interpretations to what I feel are needless,maybe even anti-creative briefs.
In the meantime I wish you success in 2018. Best regards. Tony
Thank you for your constructive comment Tony. It is a tricky concept to articulate, with cross references to ideas that are both complex and simple, but basically its a framework – the really interesting outcome will be where the artists take it!
Hi Susan, Yes, it will be interesting. I am yet to be convinced that meaningful art can derive from complexity of this sort.
Nevertheless,it will be interesting to be proved wrong.
I wish you a successful 2018.
Best regards. To y