about the work
Robyn Backen’s latest work Voices Within functions as an immersion space: a beacon to those who view it from afar, and shelter for those who walk under its gentle glow. The evocative found text and film resonate historical traces from the site and its current usage. The text relates to the phenomena of ‘home’, the cultural demographic of the local community, the nearby waterway, the passage of time and the poetic relationships that travel beside these concepts.
These messages run over 1335 LEDs on Green Square’s UNO building, each one operating as a pixel on the extended and abstracted screen. Passing through the work, one may catch snippets of filmic references, language and expression bridging cultures, I Ching hexagrams foretelling futures to come, hidden homages to iconic geospatial histories, and important moments of lulled particle movement that bring texture to absence.
Each evening Voices Within presents five, one hour ‘verses’ or episodes. The five episodes flow seamlessly between one another, inviting change and a contradictory sameness – a little reminiscent of everyday life. This marriage of constant and variable is subtly bestowed upon the passerby, with the work commencing at 15 minute variants. Even those who gravitate homeward like clockwork daily, will be met with diverse encounters, if only for a passing moment.
Like all of Backen’s work, this low res and low emission artwork is both “technologically complex but elegantly spare”. At seven meters high and seventeen meters long, its sheer size and beckoning messages mark Voices Within as a distinct new landmark for Green Square, aligning with the precinct vision for sustainability, innovation and creativity. Yet while supporting major civic regeneration, Voices Within also nurtures quiet and individual space - it gives moments of personal encounter and creates an extraordinary sense of place.
Voices Within will launch on 14 November 2019. This permanent work will screen nightly from 6pm-11:15pm, 365 days a year. It is located at UNO Apartments, Geddes Avenue, Green Square.
This project was curated by Cultural Capital.
statement
Voices Within functions as an immersion space: a beacon to those who view it from afar, and shelter for those who walk under its gentle glow. The evocative found text and film resonate historical traces from the site and its current usage. The text relates to the phenomena of ‘home’, cultural demographic of the local community, the nearby waterway, the passage of time and the poetic relationships that travel beside these concepts.
The detail and complexity of Voices Within – narrative, film and code – is conveyed with just 1335 LEDs, each one operating as a pixel on the extended and abstracted screen. Like all of Backen’s work, this low res and low emission work is both “technologically complex but elegantly spare”.
Each evening Voices Within presents five, one hour ‘verses’ or episodes. The five episodes flow seamlessly between one another, inviting change and a contradictory sameness–a little reminiscent of everyday life. This flow becomes part of a continuous loop which switches on at 6pm and off at 11.15pm each night.
credits
Artist: Robyn Backen
Animation: Ian Hobbs Media
Industrial Designer: Trent Baker
Technical Production: Hai Tran
Project Manager: Bethan Donnelly
Curator: Amanda Jelicich-Kane
Cultural Capital: Harry Partridge
Lighting design and construction: Dene Weslake and Beth Welsh
Commissioner: Bridgehill Green Square Pty Ltd
SJB Architects
Homage to Wings of Desire - Bruno Ganz & Wim Wenders, My Brother Jack, Book of Change - I Ching, Sharkie Golf Sign, Issa, Confucius, Mr Ward (dec. 2009) - Indigenous artist of Warburton, Mrs Warde
Special thanks to Djion Mundine, Leeanne Litton, Oskar Backent, Olivia Hobbs
variable dimensions
ZONE A = 403 LEDs | 6968 x 4531mm (31.6 sq m)
ZONE B = 278 LEDs | 4216 x 1560mm (6.5 sq m)
ZONE C = 654 LEDs | 13,050 x 990mm (12.9 sq m)
TOTAL = 1335 LEDs | 1 sq m
