Computer Virus 1.0
Destroyer of Naivetés: COMPUTER VIRUS 1.0 will be my next art exhibition at Galerie Richard (Paris)
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Joseph Nechvatal
Destroyer of Naivetés: COMPUTER VIRUS 1.0
September 3rd - September 27th 2016
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Galerie Richard (Paris)
74, rue de Turenne 75003 Paris
Tel: 01 43 25 27 22
e-mail: paris@galerierichard.com
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Destroyer of Naivetés: COMPUTER VIRUS 1.0 is a revisitation to Joseph
Nechvatal’s HyperCard Computer Virus Project work from 1992-93 that dealt
with the AIDS virus epidemic placed in conjunction with a growing
concern for computer viruses.
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Thanks to Francois Cheval, Computer Virus Project was created under the
umbrella of the Frac Franche-Comte at the Centre International de Réflexion
sur l'Avenir de la Fondation Claude-Nicolas Ledoux at La Saline Royale
d'Arc-et-Senans as part of Joseph Nechvatal’s artist-in-residency at Atelier
Louis Pasteur in Arbois, France (1991-1993). The original HyperCard (Basic)
computer programming was executed in 1992 by Joseph Nechvatal in close
collaboration with Jean-Philippe Massonie and Jean-Jacques Girardot at
Laboratoire MIS (Université de Franche-Comté) and in conjunction with
Christine Barrat at Apple Computer France. Dr. Nechvatal’s studio assistances
on the project were Laurent Alix, Jacques Lathuille, and Jocelyn Garbett.
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Finished Computer Virus Project artworks were exhibited under the curatorial
direction of Anne Dary (Musee de Dole) at Saline Royale, Arc-et-Senans in
1993 and in 1994 at Espace d'Art Yvonamor Palix (Paris), Galerie In Situ
(Aalst, Belgium), Brooke Alexander Gallery (New York City) and in 1995 at
Galerie Karin Sachs (Munich). In 1996 pieces from Computer Virus Project
were exhibited in Joseph Nechvatal Retrospective at Galerie Berndt (Köln)
(catalogue). In 2001 the computer animation created as part of Computer
Virus Project was exhibited at Moving Image Gallery (New York City) in
Transformers, a two-person exhibition with Joseph Nechvatal and Cory
Arcangel.
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A 1993 catalogue, edited by Luc Gruson of Arc-et-Senans: Foundation
Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, was produced by Franck Gautherot at CDM Dijon
titled Joseph Nechvatal: Computer Virus Project. It contains a short essay by
Joseph Nechvatal titled “The Computer and Conceptual Painting” (pp. 29-32),
working notes by Jean-Jacques Girardot and an art essay by Robert C. Morgan
titled “Nechvatal’s Visionary Computer Virus” (pp. 8-15). Bomb Magazine
(winter 1994 edition) featured a double page spread on the Computer Virus
Project.
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The basic rule is, where information can go, a virus can go with it.
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La règle de base, c'est que là où l'information peut aller, un virus
peut l'accompagner.
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Ostensibly, human bodies are integrating newly evolved and
evolving viruses, only some of them, such as HIV, identifiable due to
their pathogenicity. The majority of viruses and bacteria circulate
around the biosphere and technosphere harmlessly and unnoticed.
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Il paraîtrait que les corps humains sont en train d'incorporer des
virus récemment evolués et en voie d'évolution, dont certains
seulement, tels que le VIH, sont susceptibles d'être identifiés grâce à
leur pathogénicité. La plupart des virus et des bactéries circulent
dans la biosphère et technosphère, inoffensifs et inaperçus.
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We form a rhizome with our viruses, or rather, our viruses make us
form a rhizome with other creatures.
- Gilles Deleuze & Felix Guattari, “On The Line”
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