Abstract:
In this email discussion, conducted over the course of a week
in April, writer and curator Ben Slater quizzes Joe Lawlor and
Christine Molloy of desperate optimists about their move away from live
performance into the realm of new media art. In the process, desperate
optimists reflect on issues of liveness, community, performance
presence, and the practical implications for artistic practice of
working with new technologies. The piece also includes a transcript of a
short presentation given by the group at a two day seminar held to
consider the impact and practices of the Wooster Group.
desperate optimists are an artist led group currently
engaged in exploring the potential of new technologies for the creation
of combined arts practice and work for the web. Formerly known as a
performance group, the last 3 years has seen the group pursuing a
variety of web, radio and video projects in London, Wales and Dublin.
This included map50.com, a 63 part on-line narrative set in North East
London made in collaboration with 5 other artists/artists groups, a
performer and 2 programmers, and the production of a CD-ROM, Stalking
Memory, which was included in the "On Memory" issue of Performance
Research in 2001. desperate optimists have recently completed a DVD
video art work for three UK galleries, Night Bus. An online catalogue
for Night Bus can be viewed at www.nightbusproject.co.uk.
Ben Slater is a curator and writer currently working with Singapore-based performance group spell#7 as their artist in residence.
Related links:
www.desperateoptimists.com
Contact:
bs_unknown@yahoo.com
info@desperateoptimists.com