Writing machine again

Writing & Machine as Sites

Writing Machine Collective 2nd Edition [WMC_e2] aims at presenting accessible, and yet quality works with a strong research impulse to the public to illustrate one kind of possibility for new media art. This involves a new experience of writing via computer-programming-based machine capabilities.

In this edition, we particularly focused on a dialogue with Generative Art, a form of art that has been extensively explored in 20th-century fine arts and experimental literature, and more recently in media arts that involve code-based programming. In addition, we seek to ensure the works selected to shed light on our banal everyday life setting and popular cultural elements as much as possible.

All the exhibited works are interaction-based, and some highlight real-time performance. Compared with works in WMC_e1 (2004), next to the idea of machine, and the materiality of writing, we have placed a much stronger emphasis on interface design in order to strengthen the installation art quality of these works.

The interests and individual strength of the 11 artists (or teams) pertain to very different possibilities of the future development of the “Writing Machine,” and only a full assemblage of them helps to illustrate to the public the richness and diversity of this rather less attended aspect of new media arts. Along with the exhibition, a broad range of educational activities will be carried out to bring the project to fruition, including lectures, workshops, and an on-line virtual parallel exhibition, all of which will cover a six-month period.

From the perspective of research impulses, WMC_e2 is essential for further clarification of the theoretical issues and creative impulses involved in the play with technology. WMC_e2 embraces long-term multi-disciplinary enquiry, and therefore it should be more than just an exhibition of finished works.

---Curator: Linda Lai

文字機器創作集（第2輯）旨在展出探索性、平易近人且具質素的作品，透過電腦程式的機器特性，引進創新的寫作體驗，演繹新媒體藝術的種種可能。是次展覽特別注重對「衍生藝術」的探討：衍生藝術曾廣泛被二十世紀的美術及實驗文學視為研究對象，而近年冒起的媒體藝術亦有透過電腦程式來探索衍生藝術的趨勢。同時，我們亦希望參展作品能突顯普及文化中的各種元素，為日常生活的平凡景象帶來生氣。

所有參展作品均以互動為大前提，其中亦有一些作品以實時表演的形式進行。展覽延續了文字機器創作集第1輯（2004）的精神，強調對「機器」概念及寫作本身的關注。然而，相較於第一輯，是次的參展作品特別著重介面設計，以突出其裝置藝術的質素。

十一個參展藝術單位各施其法各顯所長，他們對於「文字機器」未來的發展亦提供了多方面的可能性。由於「文字機器」為新媒體藝術領域上相較地不被重視的發展方向，因此只有把所有作品一拼展出才得以勾勒其豐富與多樣性。為使整個文字機器創作集（第2輯）計劃更趨全面，我們將於未來半年間舉行多項富教育意味的活動，當中包括講座、工作坊及網上展覽。

在學術研究的層面上，文字機器創作集著實擔當了重要的角色。「文字機器」除進一步闡釋了挪玩科技所涉及的理論及創作問題外，長遠地更力求達致一跨學科的研究精神。因此，文字機器創作集的意義絕非單一場展覽所能演繹過來。

---策展人：黎肖嫻

參展藝術家 Participating Artists:

‧ CHAN Chi-hang, Ray 陳志恆 / LAM Yan-kit, Keith 林欣傑 (Wii Writes What Wii Moves)
‧ CHIU Yee-ling, Gabbie 趙綺鈴 / LEE Nga-chung, Venda 李雅頌 / TO Yip-sang, Told 涂業生 / YIP Kai-chun 葉啟俊 (Body Language)
‧ CHOI Chi-yeung, Lawrence 蔡智揚 / LAI Chiu-han, Linda 黎肖嫻 (Who is Singing? –Donald, can you hear me?)
‧ FOXALL, Nick (Untitled Announcements)
‧ HO Lok-ka, Coco 何樂家 (de - code x re- write)
‧ RODRIGUEZ, Hector 羅海德 (Station)
‧ SIU Chi-man, Eric 蕭子文 (grARTphicator)
‧ TO Yip-sang, Told 涂業生 (Genetic Text)
‧ WONG, Chiu-tat, Justin 黃照達 (Typing Machine)
‧ WONG Wing-fat, Morgan 黃榮法 (Alliance)
‧ WONG Kit-shun, Reine 王潔淳 (ARound)

Physical Exhibition
Opening: 12 January 2007, 7pm
Date: 12 January to 8 February 2007
Venues: 1a space and Videotage
Address: Units 13 and 14, Cattle Depot Artists Village, 63 Ma Tau Kok Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Seminar-lecture: 20 January 2007, 2:30pm
Topic: “Artificial Language”
Speaker: Dr. Hector Rodriguez
Artist Forum: 27 January and 3 February 2007, 2:30pm

Opening Hours
1 a space: Tuesday to Sunday, 2pm to 8 pm (Closed on Mondays and public holidays)
Videotage: Monday to Friday, 11am to 6pm (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)

Virtual Exhibition
Date: from 14 January 2007 onwards
Website: http://www.writingmachine-collective.net/virtual