CCC#4 Mankind/Machinekind: Artist Talk John Gerrard

JOHN GERRARD
Artist Talk im Rahmen der Ausstellung CCC #4 - MANKIND / MACHINEKIND

Solar Reserve by John Gerrard is a computer simulation of an actual power plant known as a solar thermal power tower, surrounded by 10,000 mirrors that reflect sunlight upon it to heat molten salts, forming a thermal battery which is used to generate electricity. Over the course of a 365-day year, the work simulates the actual movements of the sun, moon, and stars across the sky, as they would appear at the Nevada site, with the thousands of mirrors adjusting their positions in real time according to the position of the sun. This virtual world is meticulously constructed by the artist, a team of modelers, and programmers, using a sophisticated simulation engine. Simultaneously over a 24-hour period the point of view will cycle from ground level to a satellite view every 60 minutes, creating an elaborate choreography among perspectives, 10,000 turning mirrors, and a dramatic interplay of light and shadow.

The CCC (Curators Collectors Collaborations) project strives to network collectors and curators, with the goal of conceiving exhibitions on the basis of specific collections and reflecting perspectives for collection policy. The fourth and last part of the exhibition project is curated by Alain Servais and Hampus Lindwall and concentrates on an international level on the theme of digital art, which happens to be a young phenomenon in collecting contemporary art and creates questions as well as challenges on an so far object based collection policy.