Aram Bartholl's public art installations are a mash-up of the real and digital worlds. "Space and cyberspace mingle and mangle one another" in his work, as sci-fi author Bruce Sterling says in the introduction to this retrospective of Bartholl's entertaining techno-art. You've likely seen his art via a Tumblr meme or buzzfed pass-around link--the USB thumb drives embedded in a wall, the ginormous red Google Map location marker placed in a plaza. The images collected here are a reminder that the distinction between real and digital is becoming more blurry with every privacy slip-up and SoLoMo (Social-Local-Mobile) startup. The book is out now.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: Gestalten
Title: Aram Bartholl
Subtitle: The Speed Book
By: Aram Bartholl
Edited by: Domenico Quaranta
Features: 268 pages, full cover, hardcover
Catalog Prices: €39.90 | $60.00 | £37.50


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[ Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

MAP
2006-2011

Bartholl placed Google Maps start points in several locations around the cities of Taipei, Taiwan, and Berlin, Germany. The physical Map icon is about 661 pounds, and about 20 feet high.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Dead Drops
2010-Ongoing

Dead Drops are a physical format of P2P networking, and file sharing. Started in New York City in June 2010, and since spread all around the world, Dead Drops install a USB flash drive in a hidden and secret location.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Dead Drops
2010-Ongoing

Bre Pettis testing the first Dead Drop in front of MakerBot Industries in Brooklyn, NY, October 2010.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Dead Drops
2010-Ongoing

In many instances a building becomes a giant flash drive. A complete list of Dead Drop locations is available in the Book.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

WoW
2006-2009

Players of MMO games such as WoW (World Of Warcraft) are identified through online handles that hover above their avatars. Bartholl re-created this effect in real world settings from Laguna Beach, CA. to Seoul, Korea.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Speed
2006

The turning arrows from the video game Need for Speed: Underground 2 are brought to life in Bremen, Germany.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

1H
2008

A paper model of a 1H (short for one-handed weapon) is meant to inspire people to get offline by bringing the video game into everyday activities.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

First Person Shooter
2006

First Person Shooter Glasses, for people who want to bring their FPS view into the real world. The book includes instructions on how to make your own pair.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

2D Glasses
F.A.T LAB collaboration

Are you sick of the 3rd Dimension? Enjoy Full 2D with a "F*** 3D" pair of glasses. Life is so much better in full 2D.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Are You Social?
2007

Tired of people asking, "Do i know you from Twitter?" This shirt answers pesky social networking questions by advertising your memberships all in one place.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Chat
2007

The basic chat interface is translated into the physical and public sphere in this installation. Conversations can be read by the people in close proximity to the writer.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Silver Cell
2004

Silver Cell is a tool for protecting your data. It's a cell phone pouch that prevents any data from being sent or received, yet the silver-plated polyamide fabric is semitransparent so the phone's display remains visible.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

Highscreen
2011

When old CRT screens get kicked to the curb Bartholl undertakes an "urban intervention" and uses them to display computer-based art.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

0,16
2009

0,16 explores the basic element of any digital image: the pixel. Viewers passing by are turned into pixelated human figures.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

ON
2009

Digital to analog is translated by using electricity to light the most classic of all illumination systems: a candle. You light the candle with a flick of the switch.

[Images: Aram Bartholl from Aram Bartholl: The Speed Book, Copyright Gestalten 2012 ]

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