Acrylic Paintings

Re-cycled Series

Ever since my very first experiences with computers I have been fascinated with them and the far-reaching consequences they have. This interest began with learning how to crash the PETs we used to learn basic programming (mainly because we were bored and it was cool to watch the machine go haywire with falling green ASCII text) Gradually I went on to the early more invasive ideas of cyborg technology. Played Games like 'Shadowrun' and read avidly anything by William Gibson, Bruce Sterling and Neal Stephenson. The melding of machine with humans has always been of great interest to me and this lead to the interest of taking computers apart. Disassembling became almost an obsession because I always thought if I knew what magic was inside these things I could figure it all out. Of course that never happened and I ended up with a lot of computer bits and no answers.

It wasn't until later on that the interest in the actual components themselves surfaced and I started to notice how intricate and how beautiful motherboards, chips and wires actually are. I often wondered about the people who designed and created these bits. How did they feel about these tiny works of art that never saw the light of day unless they no longer worked. Admittedly, at first it never occurred to me to ask what happens to the old machines we don't use, where do all these beautiful bits go, but the answer soon became clear and it was frightening to me.

They go nowhere, they sit in garbage piles and landfills or they get silently shipped off to poorer countries because these bits and pieces never break down, never return to a useful earthly state and never ever go away. What is more, they are toxic.

The RE-Cycled project came about as I tried to combine my deep-seated interest in melding with the machines, the idea of cyborg technology was too fascinating to let go of, and my deep appreciation for the actual beauty of the singular components that go into making up our personal PCs. These two things joined up and mixed with my own concerns about what we are doing to this planet I decide to perhaps rescue some of the planet by recycling some of the junk.

When I look at a mother board I see a city at night, all grid lines and twinkly lights, when I crack open a hard drive I feel as though I am prying into the secrets of the universe, hidden, irretrievable and lost for ever. I saw jewels and treasures where other people saw a waste of money and the need to upgrade.

I took my love of colour and texture, and melded it with my love of technology and dreams. I painted canvas with acrylics and pastes, added textures and metals and the much cherished precious pieces of old computers and turned it all into art.

I hope that by elevating these little bits of computers to the status of art, that perhaps other people would take a second look and appreciate the beauty of these chips and boards and other bits of the machine. Perhaps if we can see the beauty in the machine we can see beyond throwing these things away and also help to save our planet from being overwhelmed by junk that never breaks down and never goes away. Sitting in landfills and garbage piles as reminders that we will drown in junk if we don't re think, recycle and re-use the things we take every day for granted.

You will find some ideas of prices for commisioned Art work and finished pices available to order. All prices are in Euro without shipping.