Image courtesy of the artist
Hannah Hallam-Eames
Spilled brains / synthetic circuits
20 October – 12 November 2016
Opening: Wednesday October 19, 5:30pm
Artist talk: Thursday November 10, 5:30pm
Hannah Hallam-Eames works between audio, video, digital animation and sculpture. Her recent projects employ
‘transformation machines’ to explore a post-industrial, cybernetic landscape.
Spilled brains / synthetic circuits originates from two Macrocarpa trees that were planted together by the artist as a child fifteen years ago. After
cutting down and carving them in a previous project, Hallam-Eames has developed an evolving body of work that
re-articulates, re-measures and transforms the physical properties of these trees.
Through physical processes such as burning the logs and collecting their ash, various types of data have been extracted
from the trees. In the death of their original state, this information means that the trees are still living through a
fuzz of documented information. However, this information, now spread across physical and virtual interfaces, is prone
to chaos and error.
Through a cyberfeminist lens, Spilled brains / synthetic circuits is a rejection of cybernetics, which seek to control, hierarchize and quantify ‘the out of control other’ that is nature
and bodies. The machines that act within this installation, although built specifically to be a purposeful extension of
the body, have some degree of autonomy. They nurture miscommunication between the artist and the environment, often
resulting in unexpected processes and byproducts.
The self-governance of non-human agents is a platform of anxiety and liberation for the artist, who even as the director
of these ‘transformation machines’, has limited control over the accuracy and legitimacy of any given outcome.
About the artist
Hannah Hallam-Eames is a Wellington-based artist who graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts (Hons) from Massey
University in 2014. Recent exhibitions include i think a lot about how i killed them (2016), RM, Auckland (Solo); Laminal interfaces (2016), Window, Online; BLAST! (2015-2016), Digital Arts Festival, Shanghai, Paris and Palermo, Italy; As a Lattice (2015) Toi Poneke, Wellington (Solo).
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Upcoming
Sweet Mammalian Launch, Saturday 12 November 8:30pm
As part of Lit Crawl 2016, Enjoy and Sweet Mammalian welcome you to the launch of their glorious fourth issue. Come
along to hear some great readings from their latest contributors.
Buy Enjoy,14 – 17 December 2016
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Enjoy Public Art Gallery
Level 1 / 147 Cuba Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Wednesday to Friday 11am - 6pm, Saturday 11am - 4pm