Standing on the suspended M subway station platform in the late morning, I listened to these construction workers shatter cement with industrial drills. I was surrounded by a crowd of people waiting for the subway. no-one seemed to pay attention to this clearly loud noise - were they not disturbed ? have these sounds become accepted ? and would that be good or bad?

Nov 7

There’s something almost alien about these spaces when we realize how people are zooming through the Earth’s crust. While the MTA is antiquated and doesn’t come without its problems, especially on the L subway line, it never ceases to entertain me. I’ve come to appreciate these problems as facts of my commute through tuning into my environment. For example, this deficient light bulb releasing a bizarre zapping noise in a cold subway stop in deep Brooklyn. I only heard this after missing my subway stop, but was delighted to discover this electronic extraterrestrial-like sound, reminding me of the absurdity inherent in moving through this city.

I believe it was an unintentional background sound, emanating from the towering console TVs. It pierced the catchy music in played in front - the main perspective - and was heard among the hum of fans cooling the massive machine from behind. Although it may seem distracting, this frequency brought into focus the multitudes of sounds surrounding the audio-visual installation, which were all a part of how the piece was received today. If you listen closely, you may hear spectators taking selfies with their smartphones next to this archaic technological monolith. This juxtaposition seemed almost ironic in framing technological advancements and revealed the impact of Paik’s work, as the founder of video art and telecommunication pioneer.

Thinking back to the programming theme, this background frequency represents the inadvertent implications of what we produce - and what is replicated across time. Something extraneous may become important, or visa versa, inadvertent technology may “obsolete” and developed into a new platform. All patterns we create – whether it be technological, behavioral, cognitive, etc – have important functions in a specific context and are counterfunctional in others. It’s critical to program, and also essential to be flexible and reprogram what we have set, allowing for learning and giving space for what is new.

Temperature is a different sensation than sound, operating on completely different neural pathways. Yet, these sensations combine into a cohesive perception. I find it fun to experiment with the interrelatedness of sensations and how we can challenge accustomed ways of understanding our environment, and hence, our own experience. I challenge you to put yourself in this place – on the rocky brink of a reservoir – through this sound recording to try and discover the temperature then and there...

Scores of Nasa engineers, project managers and investigators gathered at the California Institute of Technology to watch nervously as the descent took place. But when the announcer said “touchdown confirmed” they jumped to the air, dancing and cheering. As the dust settled two or three minutes later, Insight relayed the first image taken from one of its two cameras. Commentators described the landing as “perfect” and “flawless”.