[Nettime-bold] PR: "8 Bits or Less" WristcamVideo

Press Release:

SHOCKING VIDEO REVEALS TRUTH ABOUT SITUATIONIST ALIEN ABDUCTIONS! “8 Bits or Less” (by artist Patrick Lichty, with DJ Voyd remix of music by the NYC-based 8-Bit Construction Set) is first video artwork created with wristcam and 8-bit technology.

Contact: Patrick Lichty (225) 766-3811 (voyd@voyd.com)

1/21/02

Have you ever made a short film about postmodern culture and alien abduction with your watch? “8 Bits or Less”, a short form video that explores philosophy, countersurveillance techniques, and alien abduction, was shot entirely with a black – and – white Casio wristCam watch over a six month period. Consisting of under a thousand hand-assembled digital images, “8 Bits or Less” takes the viewer through a surreal landscape of hidden cameras, strange devices, and questionable science. Nevertheless, the video takes the limitations of small devices like the wrist camera as a challenge for creative innovation.

But then, director Patrick Lichty is no stranger to the use of information devices as creative tools. His “(re)distributions” PDA art exhibition features many examples of artists who have taken the next wave of personal devices and made them artist’s tools. “Creativity has often been about pushing the limits of technique”, Lichty said, “and I had no idea whether the low resolution images produced by the wristcam would translate well to video. Also, because of the low resolution (120x120) and the fact that you could only take one image every second and a half, it’s interesting to see the texture and jumpiness of the video, which is similar to that of early cinema. As far as wearable media devices are concerned, I think we’re at a similar point of time.”

“8 Bits or Less” features a DJ Voyd remix of the NYC-based band The 8-Bit Construction Set’s song, “Dollars” as part of the work’s soundtrack. The music, composed on 20-year old Commodore 64 computers, runs counter to market pressures for continual computer upgrades. Combined with the fact that all of the vocals and video were created using older 8-bit technology, “8 Bits or Less” remembers the history of personal computing as well as considers the edge of small and wearable devices that populate society today.

Future plans are for a color sequel, and a number of gallery exhibitions featuring imagery from the video.

”8 Bits Or Less” is currently available on VHS, DV, and Video CD (with DVD in the works).

Patrick Lichty is an artist, writer, and curator who works with experimental forms of technological media. His last major work, “Sprawl: The American Landscape in Transition” continues exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and his “(re)distributions” international PDA art curatorial project continues until February 28^th.

Contact Info:

Patrick Lichty

(Videos, Info)

(001) 225 766 3811

voyd@voyd.com
Site URL: (includes Realvideo version) http://www.voyd.com/8bol

8-Bit Construction Set
The 8-Bit Construction Set are: Michael Schwartz (former director of Activision Audio), Dwayne "hooker" Delario, Schwartz, Rick Stryker, Perry "pone" Mahone, DJ Cougar Shuttle
http://beigerecords.com/artists/8bitcs.html