This project, based on a simple self made story, was made back in 2000.
It's an experiment on what is an Input/Output box - one inputs (feeds) something through a machine, something happens and then there's an output (an outcome).
The result is 9 mixed media (screenprinting, photography, collage, computer image editing, oil painting, sculpture) canvases, 30×30cm, that can be read in all three vertical and all three horizontal directions.
The first row depicts what the man in the story sees.
The second row depicts what the woman in the story feels.
The third row depicts what the building in the story perceives.
The first column depicts what the woman in the story feels.
The second column depicts what the woman in the story feels.
The third column depicts what the building in the story perceives.
The I/O Box story unedited
They were strolling down a narrow and dark alley. It was empty and deserted on a hot day. The houses on both sides seemed to lean more than standing upright and there was only a little bit of sky which they could catch glimpsing down to street level.
Suddenly, the small alley opened up and they found themselves standing in the middle of an open square. It was bustling with activity and they had to stop so their eyes could adjust to the glaring light of the sun. He grabbed her by the arm. She spun around and gasped in astonishment. An enormous building filled the sky. It was greenish looking and had numerous little towers and balconies. She hastily pulled out the small metal I/O Box which she had started to carry around a couple of weeks ago and then after switching it on she plugged it at the back of her neck. The box made a strange sound and a small door opened from the top. Biomechanical tentacles came out of it and plugged themselves around her head. She could feel the whole city - the buildings, the vehicles, the people, the machines. Every nerve, every muscle was connected to the city. Just like if objects were thoughts, she discovered that she had power over everything. She could alter everything that surrounded her.
Suddenly they heard sirens. Security from the greenish building have already spotted them. All at once the crowd made a circle around them. Next thing, they heard whistles and people were starting to run. She took a long harsh look at the building and thought: “This...building...-it doesn’t belong here...” There was a big roar beneath their feet and then the earth started to tremble. People panicked - they started screaming, running, shouting, pushing each other towards all directions. He was just standing behind her but they were both staring, full of awe, at the big greenish building literally sinking in the ground. Fast - very very fast, like if it was being supported on mechanical cogs. Its towers and balconies started to collapse. A big cloud of dust covered the square and they could only see the silhouettes of the people trying to escape from their windows. After twenty or thirty seconds everything stopped. The only thing that was proof of what happened was the cloud of dust that settled on the ground.
Soon after the dust cleared of, all that was left was a small room at the same level of the ground and lots of people coming out of it - stepping over another - trying to get out. It was the elevator repair room that buildings usually have on top.
Full of satisfaction she turned her head and looked at him. His eyes were wide but he wasn’t afraid of her. She took his hand - next thing they heard was the sirens. He gave her a big kiss and he started to run towards the alley. She didn’t follow. Instead she unplugged the I/O Box from her head. It seemed that the disconnection was quite violent - like if the I/O Box couldn’t manage to hold on to it’s host. It automatically switched off and she said: “We have to leave...Now!” The whole city was trembling, like a massive earthquake they only thing they could hear was the thundering roar beneath their feet. The city was collapsing piece by piece. They run back into the alley looking for a way out.