In presenting his ideas in 2013, Songailo proposed a work linking data generated by the building – such as heating/cooling, power usage and security information – to a large scale digital display.
The vision of this proposal, to create a fictional device driven by real data, aimed to prompt critical thinking around the question of ‘what is real?’ In this, the work would throw up a challenge to those engaging with it in the same way scientific inquiry demands deep interrogation before the establishment of fact.
Developing the work throughout 2014-15 was a highly complex task presenting architectural challenges as well as significant logistical and technical difficulties. The pioneering and elegant result, displayed on a bank of LED panels set within the structure of the ground floor, is testament to the passion, commitment and collaborative efforts of many.
In particular the close involvement of CSEM staff was critical to the project’s success. Bringing high level computer programming skills to the table, the work of Associate Professor Kenneth Pope, Technical Services Manager Geoff Cottrell and Technical Officer Craig Dawson was fundamental in establishing the functionality of the work.
