Joseph Nechvatal
Destroyer of Naivets: COMPUTER VIRUS 1.0
74, rue de Turenne 75003 Paris
Tel: 33 1 43 25 27 22
e-mail: paris@galerierichard.com
September 3rd - September 27th 2016
Destroyer of Naivets: COMPUTER VIRUS 1.0 is a revisitation to Joseph Nechvatals HyperCard Computer Virus Project work from 1992-93 that dealt with the AIDS (SIDA) virus epidemic placed in conjunction with a growing concern for computer viruses.
Thanks to Francois Cheval, Computer Virus Project was created under the umbrella of the Frac Franche-Comte at the Centre International de Rflexion sur l'Avenir de la Fondation Claude-Nicolas Ledoux at La Saline Royale d'Arc-et-Senans as part of Joseph Nechvatals artist-in-residency at Atelier Louis Pasteur in Arbois, France (1991-1993). The original HyperCard computer programming was executed in 1992 by Joseph Nechvatal in close collaboration with Jean-Philippe Massonie and Jean-Jacques Girardot at Laboratoire MIS (Universit de Franche-Comt) and in conjunction with Christine Barrat at Apple Computer France. Dr. Nechvatals studio assistances on the project were Laurent Alix, Jacques Lathuille, and Jocelyn Garbett.
Finished Computer Virus Project artworks were exhibited under the curatorial direction of Anne Dary (Musee de Dole) at Saline Royale, Arc-et-Senans in 1993 and in 1994 at Espace d'Art Yvonamor Palix (Paris), Galerie In Situ (Aalst, Belgium), Brooke Alexander Gallery (New York City) and in 1995 at Galerie Karin Sachs (Munich). In 1996 pieces from Computer Virus Project were exhibited in Joseph Nechvatal Retrospective at Galerie Berndt (Kln) (catalogue). In 2001 the computer animation created as part of Computer Virus Project was exhibited at Moving Image Gallery (New York City) in Transformers, a two-person exhibition with Joseph Nechvatal and Cory Arcangel.
A 1993 catalogue, edited by Luc Gruson of Arc-et-Senans: Foundation Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, was produced by Franck Gautherot at CDM Dijon titled Joseph Nechvatal: Computer Virus Project. It contains a short essay by Joseph Nechvatal titled The Computer and Conceptual Painting (pp. 29-32), working notes by Jean-Philippe Massonie and an art essay by Robert C. Morgan titled Nechvatals Visionary Computer Virus (pp. 8-15). Bomb Magazine (winter 1994 edition) featured a double page spread on the Computer Virus Project.
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Works in the 2016 Galerie Richard Show
viral attaque : amoR foRti (1993)
1.19x1.78 cm (46x66)
plastic & peintures assistes par ordinateur sur toile
plastic & computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas
viral attaque : breaK thRougH (1993)
102x122.5 cm (40x48)
peintures assistes par ordinateur sur toile
computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas
viral attaque : haVes & haVe nOts (1993)
102x122.5 cm (40x48)
peintures assistes par ordinateur sur toile
computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas
viral attaque : la CaRne (1993)
190x275 cm (74.8x108.3)
peintures assistes par ordinateur sur toile
computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas
viral attaque : transmissioN (1993)
180x275 cm (70.9x108)
peintures assistes par ordinateur sur toile
computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas
viral attacque : passiOn pluS (1993)
102x122.5 cm (40x48)
peintures assistes par ordinateur sur toile
computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas
viral attaque : cOnquest Of the hOrrible (1993)
175x245 cm (68.9x96.5)
peintures assistes par ordinateur sur toile
computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas
***
THE HYPERCARD CODE
CLS
DIM 1 V$(9,5)
DIM 251 M$(3,900)
G$=FILES$(1,"TEXT",,V%)
W%=V%
OPEN"I",#1,G$,,V%
INPUT#1,NINFECTION
INPUT #1,NCOL
INPUT #1,NLIGN
FOR I=1 TO 4
FOR J=1 TO 8
INPUT#1,X%
V$(I,J)=CHR$(X)
NEXT J
NEXT I
CLOSE#1
F$=FILES$(1,"TEXT",,V%)
H$=LEFT$(F$,LEN(F$)-2)
FOR K=1 TO 3
IF K=1 THEN F$=H$+".R"
IF K=2 THEN F$=H$+".V"
IF K=3 THEN F$=H$+".B"
OPEN"I",#1,F$,,W%
LONG IF NCOL<=250
FOR I=1 TO NLIGN
READ#1,M$(1,I);NCOL
NEXT I
XELSE
FOR I=1 TO NLIGN
READ#1,M$(1,I);250
READ#1,M$(2,I);NCOL-250
NEXT I
END IF
CLOSE#1
RANDOM
FOR L=1 TO NINFECTION
VERTICAL=INT(RND(NCOL))
HORIZONTAL=INT(RND(250))
U=0
FOR J= VERTICAL TO VERTICAL+3
U=U+1
V=0
FOR I= HORIZONTAL TO HORIZONTAL+7
V=V+1
LONG IF ASC(V$(V,U))<>0
LONG IF NCOL<250 DEBUT$=LEFT$(M$(1,VERTICAL),LEN(M$(1,VERTICAL))-1)
FIN$=RIGHT$(M$(1,VERTICAL),LEN(M$(1,VERTICAL))-HORIZONTAL) M$(1,VERTICAL)=DEBUT$+V$(V,U)+FIN$
XELSE DEBUT$=LEFT$(M$(2,VERTICAL),LEN(M$(2,VERTICAL))-1) FIN$=RIGHT$(M$(2,VERTICAL),LEN(M$(2,VERTICAL))-HORIZONTAL)
M$(1,VERTICAL)=DEBUT$+V$(V,U)+FIN$
END IF
END IF
NEXT I
NEXT J
NEXT L
IF K=1 THEN G$=H$+"-"+STR$(NINFECTION)+".R"
IF K=2 THEN G$=H$+"-"+STR$(NINFECTION)+".V"
IF K=3 THEN G$=H$+"-"+STR$(NINFECTION)+".B"
OPEN"O",#1,G$,,W%
LONG IF NCOL<=250
FOR I=1 TO NLIGN
PRINT#1,M$(1,I)
NEXT I
XELSE
FOR I=1 TO NLIGN
PRINT#1,M$(1,I)
PRINT#1,M$(2,I)
NEXT I
END IF
CLOSE#1
NEXT K
END
***
The basic rule is, where information can go, a virus can go with it.
La rgle de base, c'est que l o l'information peut aller, un virus peut l'accompagner.
***
Ostensibly, human bodies are integrating newly evolved and evolving viruses, only some of them, such as HIV, identifiable due to their pathogenicity. The majority of viruses and bacteria circulate around the biosphere and technosphere harmlessly and unnoticed.
Il paratrait que les corps humains sont en train d'incorporer des virus rcemment evolus et en voie d'volution, dont certains seulement, tels que le VIH, sont susceptibles d'tre identifis grce leur pathognicit. La plupart des virus et des bactries circulent dans la biosphre et technosphre, inoffensifs et inaperus.
***
We form a rhizome with our viruses, or rather, our viruses make us form a rhizome with other creatures.
- Gilles Deleuze & Felix Guattari, On The Line
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