Figure 8
Alan Rath
b. 1959, Cincinnati, Ohio
Info Glut II
1997, Aluminum, acrylic, electronics and three cathrode ray tubes, 50 x 50x x18. Collection of the San Jose Museum of Art.
Info Glut II embodies Alan Rath’s enthusiasm for contemporary technology. Trained as an electrical engineer, the artist infuses his sculptures with an inquisitiveness about electronics that goes back to his childhood. His art celebrates our symbiotic relationship with modern technology.
Initially, Info Glut II seems less machine than organism: the mouth on one of the video monitors represents the head, while the hands dangle from wires representing arms, or perhaps a circulatory system. But Info Glut II is an elaborate electronic structure that reveals Rath’s intricate technical process. The animation on the monitors is produced by a sophisticated program, developed by the artist.
By capturing complicated modern technology in human form, Rath makes it more accessible. Yet the hands communicate in American Sign Language, alienating anyone who does not understand it. Nonetheless, they flash the title and date of the work, the artist’s height, weight, and hair color, along with stock phrases like “batteries not included” and “objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” The overall message, however, is simple: in this technological age, we have a plethora of information at our fingertips, accessible in a variety of forms and a multitude of languages. The challenge is to prioritize the data in order to reap the benefits.
–Beth Venn and Cathy Kimball
Photograph: ©1998, San Jose Museum of Art/Ben Blackwell
Artwork © Alan Rath.