Portrait — commissioned proposal for a building wrap/neon in Manchester, 2023 (unrealised). The portrait would have a computer controlled neon overlay to make it visible at night.
Imagining an avatar of Manchester, born of a post-industrial process: androgynous, multi-ethnic, posthuman, post-identity, iconic, and symbolic.
The video below is of a simulation created with repurposed 3D map data, with the building georeferenced to its real-world position to test sun angles across times of day and night. The face is a composite drawn from Manchester’s projected demographic mix, reflecting a future Manchester citizen: creative, youthful, urban, and media-savvy.
Artificial life is as much a part of our quest for self-definition as it is an instrument in the construction of reality. In exploring technology of life we are exploring the possibilities of what we might become. The self as an ongoing creation gives rise to essentially non-linear identity.
‘Seeing Double: Art and the Technology of Transcendence’ – Roy Ascott.
Sustainability Goals
To hit sustainability goals we proposed printing using ReactivAir – ‘a pollution eating speciality coating made from naturally occurring materials that improves air quality by using energy from natural sunlight to breakdown harmful pollutants and odour molecules in the air.’ 1m2 of coated material can take out approx 2g of NOx per day. The project could remove pollution created by over 1400 cars every week.
Afterlife
At the projects end of life we propose closing the cycle by recycling the vinyl fabric into backpacks & messenger bags by forming a partnership with a speciality company such as Rareform, Freitag or Uks own M-24.
Carbon Offsetting
Neon linework -is an energy-efficient light source compared to incandescent, that only the newest lED technologies can challenge.
