Bastardising Technology as a Critical Mode of Cultural Practice

Opening: 7pm, 04 Aug 2010 (performance at 8pm sharp).
Exhibition: 12-4pm, 06 and 07 Aug (closed for assessment 05 Aug).
Free entry.

Daniel James has spent the last four years experimenting with robotics, music, video and performance. This is serious research - a panel of experts will assess him, and then hopefully award him a doctorate in fine arts. For the rest of you, this exhibition is a one-off chance to meet a narcissistic robotic monkey, to encounter a studious CCTV android, to party in the operating theatre of a couple of quack anaesthetists, and to experience the the shifty aftermath of a copycat crime.

Daniel is a dynamic and innovative artist who bastardises technology (‘hybridises’ is far too polite), so that he can reflect on the roles that it plays in society. His robotics works are simultaneously creepy/grotesque and cute/endearing. His audio/video mashups playfully layer up samples from pop-culture (music, TV, film and internet), to create fun yet disorientating experiences.

This exhibition presents four artworks: three installation works, and an audiovisual performance by Anaesthesia Associates (Daniel James and Paul Bradley). It is the culmination (and the assessment point) of Daniel’s doctoral research in fine arts.

Daniel James (aka Dan Untitled, formerly Daniel Agnihotri-Clark) is an artist, curator, musician and art tutor. He has presented work around New Zealand, and internationally in London, Berlin, Barcelona and Melbourne. Daniel is also co-curator of the multi-city cyberformance festivals 080808, 090909, and 101010, he is co-producer of the international open source film project Stray Cinema, and he is co-director of the video production company Stray Media. Daniel DJs as Copycat Crime, and sometimes (leaving the newer technology to others) he plays bass in the Axis of Weevils.

Paul Bradley is Daniel’s longstanding co-conspirator, and they have worked together on numerous projects over the years. Paul is a painter, VJ, commercial illustrator and art tutor. His video work has been screened in Japan and throughout Europe, and his illustration work has been published in New Zealand, Melbourne, New York, Toronto, Hong Kong and Frankfurt.

Anaesthesia Associates are already infamous for their professional malpractice and their reputation warrants no further introduction. The anaesthetists will perform their operation only once - opening night is your sole chance to experience all four artworks, bastardising technology together as one harmonious doctoral thesis.

Http Error 406: Not Acceptable opens 7pm, Weds 04 Aug 2010, at the Engine Room Gallery in Wellington. Performance by Anaesthesia Associates at 8pm.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135321783153947#!/event.php?eid=135321783153947