virtualfork

Interactive blockchain art installation, 2021.

The sweeping transformations of the digital era have brought massive upheaval to just about every corner of life. Above all, it has confronted our understanding of self. As the boundary between the physical and the virtual becomes increasingly elusive, the relevance of constructing such a separation is challenged.

In virtualfork the user's physical body is used to generate a digital footprint. As users enter the installation space, a sensor tracks their movement. An algorithm converts the user's positional real-time data into code that executes a transaction on the blockchain. With each successful transaction submitted to the blockchain, an everlasting, uniquely identifiable trace is left behind.

virtualfork is a fully automated digital footprint generator. Guided by visual and audible cues, the user sees metrics characterizing their movement displayed on the main screen. As they navigate around the space, a progress bar gradually fills up. Upon completion, a digital trace is generated in the form of a cryptocurrency transaction. A QR code is generated on a secondary screen, allowing the user to verify the transaction.

Credits: Creative Direction, Code & Design: Ilja Kolosovs. Audio Composition: David Bock.

Exhibitions: Virtualfork v1, Gogbot 2021. Virtualfork v2, AKI Finals.