 Abjet d'Art (1991)
Computer,
sensors, speech synthesizer;
4x17x19"; 5 lbs.
Status:
collection of Alan Rath
Abjet D'art is
constructed from a PC computer, three
ultrasonic movement sensors and a speech
synthesizer. The sculpture detects the
presence of viewers, and sometimes
speaks to them. The speech is synthetic,
robotic. The psychological profile of
the piece is failure, pessimism and poor
self-image. Utterances are simple,
feeble, and apologetic: "I'm
sorry" or "I know I'm not much
to look at but..." or "Why don’t
you just unplug me?" When a viewer
ventures very close, the piece repeats
"Please don't hit me" until
they back away again.
Although it appears to be a loose
pile of circuit boards, the sculpture is
actually highly structured, and
transports and installs easily. It
should be displayed on a 3 - 4"
high pedestal for safety, near a wall or
corner, and requires seven feet of open
space around it and a 120v outlet within
ten feet.
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