windows

Online e-say commissioned by the BBC (the fourth in my e-say series). Virtual reality, plasticity and a world beyond interface. When I made windows for the BBC, I invited the viewer to look out of a window and to send me a message recording what they saw. I don't recall all the emails that came back, but I do remember the first one because it hit me like a bolt of lightning. It said simply 'I see a palm tree', reminding me that not all views are the same and yet connectivity can be the thread that unites us (a very 90s idea, perhaps). 'I didn't have a plan. The first thing I made online was a letter [I'm probably referring to email delivery, which seemed at the time to be a complete novelty – a piece of magic]. Just simple pages. With links. So that became the blueprint for all the works that came after: www sites, VR, e-says. One thing to say is that my work is very slow moving. But it needs the messiness and white noise of the www environment in order to make something that runs contrary to it. Also (just a note). You can't take control of the medium. LOL! It's already beyond our control and that's what makes it interesting. Just accept what it gives you and try to make something with it. That's all.' (From Michael Atavar interview with Rain Ashford 2002) 'I first became interested in the online environment in 1996 – I had one friend, Rick in SF, who had email, and I managed to enable my Macintosh Classic (monochrome, 4MB version) to receive e-messages – most of these came from Apple themselves, there were so few people using it for contact back them.' (From OMETHR (2020) FAQs: this gives some indication of my relationship to email at the time, see above) The news story from the BBC (Digital Artist Welcomes 'Revolution') is archived on their site and can be viewed here. The e-say signs off 'This work is dedicated to Vannevar Bush, Douglas Engelbart, Alan Kay and all electronic pioneers of the window.' Commissioned: BBC Online Website: Text, programming and audio files by Michael Atavar. Digital animations by Julian Baker, Mia Huang Graphic reconstructions: Richard Scarborough