Taeyoon ChoiArtist statement and work sampleCompiled in January 5th, 2014

taeyoon@sfpc.io

* Contact the artist before using any material in this document

http://taeyoonchoi.com

My recent work revolve around the concept of Software Fiction and Hardware Noir.*

I build custom hardware that contrast the common ‘Black Box’ products in the market. The series of working prototypes examine the possibility of modular, open source computer that operate on affects and percepts beyond binary logic.

*Word choice is inspired by ‘Design Fiction and Design Noir’ used by Dunne & Raby and others.

8 Bit Modular Computer, Custom designed hardware (2013) http://taeyoonchoi.com/2013/07/modular-input/

I make working prototypes in order to imagine alternatives ways of computing and communicating.

Note explaining workings of JK Flip Flop, Integrated Circuits and hand drawn images, video (2013)http://taeyoonchoi.com/2013/03/open-source-kit/

Although my artistic process often involve technical research and development, the end goal is social and aesthetic exploration of our relationship with technology.

Postpostoffice, Drawings and digital photographs, postcards (2013)http://taeyoonchoi.com/2013/04/storage-to-memory/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95057526@N04/

Bird Call Video Link: https://vimeo.com/83232785Sine wave circuit video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9dJJ72Xa9I

Signals and code command machines. Affects bring presence in human.

There is poetics in the moment when boolean logic meets electricity (hardware) and when language meets mathematics (software).

Noise Collector, sound performance in Liberty Park, NYC (2012)

Performance https://vimeo.com/46561833Exhibition at 319 Scholes, Brooklyn https://vimeo.com/56892511 Documents http://taeyoonchoi.com/2012/06/noisecollector/

I sketch odd interface and systems, hardware with sinister complexity that reminds of characters in film noir and a software that is absurd to the point of existential crisis.

Studio view

8 Bit Adder/Subtractor, working prototype, Integrated Circuits, electronics (2013)http://taeyoonchoi.com/2013/08/sfpc-kit/http://taeyoonchoi.com/2013/07/full-adder-with-nor-gate/

Building circuit is like writing poetry, there is play of words, rhythm and metaphor.

Connecting electricity to discrete components is like placing characters in plots and programming is like writing a novel.

INPUT=OUTPUT “This module is a fully configurable, primitive binary computer that can be used for signal generation, memory and arithmetic purpose. It can be programmed by connecting exposed pins with jumper wires. It’s a hardware where input is output, the circuit is signal and data is program.” - 2013

Custom made circuit, NAND & HEX Inverter chip, electronics (2013) Video Link: https://vimeo.com/83232557

Bit Shifter “This is a hand wired Shift Register made from D type Flip Flop Integrated circuits. This module can be configured for storing data as well as to multiply binary numbers by connecting to other modules” - 2013

Custom made circuit, D type Flip Flop chip, electronics (2013) Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0iO5MZeKPo&feature=youtu.be

Software Fiction is working with imaginative applications that are technically impossible and unrealistic. It also means writing stories about using such software.

User Experience, Web comic (2013) http://taeyoonchoi.com/2013/03/user-experience-1/

Some of my writings and drawings are made into objects (paintings, ceramics, and robotics).

The objects are used for video, installation and performance.

Melancholy Pad, Acrylics on canvas (2013) http://taeyoonchoi.com/2013/03/app-paintings/

My writings and drawings make most sense as a book. I’ve self published zines, books in print and digital format.

Anti-Manifesto, designed by Hyo Kwon. Shanghai Biennale 2012 http://taeyoonchoi.com/antimanifesto/

I try to share what I care the most by teaching, curating and activism.

I co-founded School for Poetic Computation, 10 weeks intensive school based in Brooklyn.

I also direct Making Lab at 4th APAP, a community makerspace in Anyang, South Korea. We organized 25+ workshops and commissioned custom kits.

School for Poetic Computation: The First Classhttp://sfpc.io/

Making Lab http://apap.or.kr/makinglab/

“Occu-bot can protest in places that human civil disobedience is not allowed, and it can also replace human protesters.” - 2011

Occu-bott, robot and performance (2011) http://taeyoonchoi.com/2011/12/occu-bot-and-financier-bot/

Speakers Corners, exhibition at EYEBEAM (2012)

“Let’s talk about Democracies. Democracy as in IKEA and shipping containers, as in Open Source and Free Stuff, as in Organic and Facebook, as in Christmas lights at Occupy Wall Street.” - 2012

http://taeyoonchoi.com/speakerscorners/

“My friends, there is no friend! but there is... IFriend (Instant Friend: a DIY Kit of a friend, includes face, hand and feet made of laser cut acrylics, wood and electronics ), IDog (A dog with many legs, made of mirrored acrylics and projects a beam of laser, which is reflected by a disco ball spinning on a screw driver.”-2011

IFriend, customa made hardware, powerpoint, performance (2011) http://taeyoonchoi.com/2011/12/ifriend/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzLq_KNVg8Mhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa5CrOKtKbc

Hacking IKEA“In IKEA Mega store near Malmø, the second largest store in the world and the largest in Europe, I made a field recording while making noise with motors and microcontroller in the showroom, often interacting with the shoppers and the products on display. These six sets of improvisational performance, or ‘the action’ does nothing much to change the soundscape of the shop or challenge the Capitalist system or to have any means of direct action toward the Machine.” - 2011

http://taeyoonchoi.com/2011/12/hacking-i-k-e-a/https://vimeo.com/33985709

Hacking IKEA, performance, Malmø, Sweden (2011) 

Camerautomata, custom made robot, performance (2008)http://taeyoonchoi.com/2010/12/camerautomata/

Camerautomata Charlie“I questioned, while new technology is making our life more convenient, automatic home electronics are replacing our labor, why is there no a camera that takes photograph on its own. So I decided to liberate cameras from human operation.” - 2008

Object of desire, custom made software, hardware and performance (2005)http://taeyoonchoi.com/2010/01/object-of-desire/

Object of Desire“The project started by trying to understand tourists’ desire to photograph relentlessly.I joined a tour group and experienced Seoul, my home town, in the tourists’ point of view.”- 2005

EducationThe School of the Art Institute of Chicago. B.F.A 2004 Department of Performance and New mediaThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. M.S. 2007 Department of Culture Technology

Residency and grantsFellowship, Eyebeam Art and Technology Center 2011~2012 Residency, Eyebeam Art and Technology Center 2008 Residency, Art Center Nabi, Seoul, South Korea 2006Grant, The Arts Council of Korea. 2007, 2009, 2011College Art Award, Chicago Cultural Center 2003

Solo exhibitionSpeakers Corners, Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, New York, USA 2012 My friends, there is no friend. Spanien 13c, Aarhus, Denmark 2011When Technology Fails, Reality Prevails. Art Space Hue, Seoul, South Korea 2007

Selected exhibitionAnti-Manifesto Shanghai Biennale, Daejon pavilion, Shanghai, China 2012 Codes of Contingency, 319 Scholes, New York, USA 2012Teleport, Centre des Arts, Enghien les Bains, Paris, France 2010From point A to point B, University of Georgia, Athens, USA 2009Liars Picnic, Conflux City Festival, New York, USA 2009Coffee with Sugar, Akbank Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey 2008DISLOCATE; Art, Technology and Locality, ZAIM, Yokohama, Yokohama,Japan, 2007

Teaching and workshopThe Public School New York, New York USA 2010~current Dorkbot, Location One, New York, USA 2012ARTALK, Culture Hub, New York, USA 2012NAND to XOR, City College of New York, New York, USA, 2012Art of Tourism, The Creators Project, Seoul, South Korea 2011Digital Day Camp, Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, New York, USA 2011 Introduction to Sound Art, The Public School New York, USA 2011 Interactivos? Medialab Prado, Madrid, Spain 2010Drawing +-, Parsons New School for Design, New York, USA 2009OFLAB, Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria 2008Interactivos? Eyebeam Art and Technology Center, New York, USA 2008 Urban Programming 101, Upgrade! International, Skopje, Macedonia 2008

PublicationInvisible Cities, Moleskine Special edition, 2012Roadshow South Korea, New Normal Business, Total Museum of Art, 2012 Anti-Manifesto, New Normal Business, New York 2012Urban programming 101: Stage direction, Mediabus, Seoul, 2011

Taeyoon Choi

Artist based in Brooklyn, New York and SeoulCo-founder, School for Poetic Computation 2013~Director, Making Lab of the 4th APAP 2013~