random international studies the relationship between humans + machines at pace gallery

at new york’s pace gallery, random international presents a solo exhibition of works that investigate how we perceive and process visual information — particularly in relationship to the human body, and our own reflection. from now through october 22, 2016, ‘on the body’ marks the first presentation of new pieces in new york by the artist collective since MoMA hosted ‘rain room‘ back in 2013. this experimental series of projects offers a tangible manifestation of the relationship between humans and machines through a range of visual, material and technological methods. 

study for fifteen points / I, 2016 motors, custom driver electronics, custom software, aluminium, LEDs, computer
22″ x 28″ x 21-3/4″ (55.9 cm x 71.1 cm x 55.2 cm), sculpture 31-7/8″ x 30″ (81 cm x 76.2 cm), plinth
image © random international 2016 / photograph courtesy pace gallery

at the core of the exhibition at pace gallery is ‘fifteen points / I’, a human-scale sculpture made up of industrial robotic arms, each mounted with a single LED light. moving simultaneously in an accurately programed sequence of maneuvers, the illuminated points on the sculpture align to create the perceived silhouette of an animated, walking figure. despite the undisguised mechanisms at work, humans are able to visualize the form in motion with a minimum of visual information available.

fifteen points / I, 2016
motors, custom driver electronics, custom software, aluminium, carbon fibre, LEDs, custom rail system, computer
200 cm x 300 cm x 800 cm (78-3/4″ x 9′ 10-1/8″ x 26′ 2-15/16″)
image © random international 2016 / photograph courtesy pace gallery

‘fifteen points’ is the result of random international’s ongoing study of motion, representation, and perception. the sculpture has been produced following a residency at the biomimetic robotics division of the harvard school of engineering and applied sciences, facilitated by le laboratoire. this piece — alongside a smaller study for ‘fifteen points / I’ also on display — explores the instinctual ability of humans to decipher subtle nuances in form, expressed in their capacity to visualize a figure in the display of kinetic lights.

study for fifteen points / I
video courtesy of random international

also exhibited is ‘self and other’ — a sculpture of large glass sheets embedded with a grid of LED lights that reflect the onlooker with a slight delay; ‘small study / I (FAR)’ distorts its own surface through moving light and falling shadow; ‘blur mirror’ and ‘fragments / I’ are both made of mirrored squares arranged to form larger, framed mirrors, reacting to human presence in unexpected ways, and questioning how we truly see ourselves.

fragments, 2016
stainless steel mirrors, aluminium, high density fibre board, motors, camera, computer
39-7/8″ x 88-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ (101.3 cm 224.8 cm x 14.6 cm)

fragments, 2016

fragments, 2016

blur mirror, 2016
glass, custom electronics, motors, aluminium frame, cameras, computer, custom software
236 cm x 114 cm x 11.5 cm (92- 15/16″ x 44-7/8″ x 4-1/2″)
image © random international 2016 / photograph courtesy pace gallery

self and other, 2016
glass, LEDs, steel frame, aluminum, power supplies, computer, driver electronics, custom software, time of flight camera, cabling
109-3/8″ x 63″ x 51-1/2″ (277.8 cm x 160 cm x 130.8 cm)
image © random international 2016 / photograph courtesy pace gallery

mall study (FAR) / I, 2016
richlite, aluminium, LEDs, custom electronics, custom software
27-3/16″ x 27-1/2″ x 5″ (69.1 cm x 69.9 cm x 12.7 cm)
image © random international 2016 / photograph courtesy pace gallery

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