Helene Black: 2000 :: Medi@terra

Factory, Athens, Greece
Group show
Curated by Fournos and Athens School of Fine Arts, Athens, Greece
3-7 Nov 2000

Cyprus national competition for the Cyprus representation in the Medi@terra exhibition and symposium, Athens, Greece First prize on CDROM section. (These CDRoms were chosen in a national competition by the Cyprus Ministry of Culture to represent the country in the Medi@terra)

On exit frame me
Concept
Does digital imagery assist in the construction of identity? The development of technology has not only provided a new form of language but also a new set of values and images which have initialised the individual’s desire to transform. Morphing, transforming the self, the physical image, the cognitive image, use of language/communications and self perception are all now in a state of flux. Virtual reality has become an integral part of social life. Cyberspace, the multi dimensional, electromagnetic matrix has become a ceaseless feedback system which transforms, de-forms and re-forms physical reality.
The title of this work comes from a lingo command found in the Macromedia Director program. On exit frame me, aims to analyse the contribution of the visual image, especially visual arts, in identity construction. This CDROM application is structured in four parts: Biomorphs, Hybrid, Subject Object and Virtual. These parts represent the various levels of self image interaction of each individual. The application is scripted to allow for user participation but it also runs on a loop which renders it autonomous.

Credits
Authored in Lingo and Actionscript by Yiannis Colakides and Helene Black ©2000
Using
Macromedia Director 8.0, Macromedia Flash 4.0, Macromedia SoundEdit 16v2, Adobe Photoshop 5.5, Adobe Premiere 5.5, Apple QuickTime 4.0 and Gif Builder 0.5
Minimum Hardware requirements:
A Macintosh PPC computer, 266MHZ, 64MB RAM, 16VRAM, 15” Monitor 6x CDROM
A PC PII computer, 300MHz, 64MB RAM, 15” Monitor 6x CDROM
Minimum Software requirements:
Mac OS System 8.5+, 800×600 resolution
Win 95, 800×600 resolution
Arial, TTY and VT100 fonts
Special thanks to Adonis Florides and Sevina Zesimou.

Mirror
Concept
Originating from Cyprus and experiencing bicommunal and political conflict, a coup d’etat, and eventually the 1974 war and the huge damage neighbours can inflict to one another, left us with an inheritance of violent press images from both sides, with each image nursing its own wounds. The political ideology behind each image is different but their language remains the same. Each movie in this application is composed of images taken from both sides of the conflict. We are by no means trying to make a political statement by it, nor reduce the finer political points into an one liner superficial point of view nor reduce the personal hurt of individuals directly or indirectly affected by the conflict. Instead we are merely adding another voice against the insanity of war and conflict.
Finally, regardless of UN resolutions, political agreements, or public opinions, violence is never from a single source. And the participants are never countries in the abstract sense but always people. Individuals who fall victims of their time and belief systems. Technology and imagination creates a new cultural practice whereby the desire for mutual understanding and acceptance becomes a reality.

Credits
Authored in Lingo and Actionscript by Yiannis Colakides and Helene Black ©2000
Using
Macromedia Director 8.0, Macromedia Flash 4.0, Macromedia SoundEdit 16v2, Adobe Photoshop 5.5, Adobe Premiere 5.0, Apple QuickTime 4.0 and Gif Builder 0.5
Minimum Hardware requirements:
A Macintosh PPC computer, 266MHZ, 64MB RAM, 16VRAM, 15” Monitor 6x CDROM
A PC PII computer, 300MHz, 64MB RAM, 15” Monitor 6x CDROM
Minimum Software requirements:
Mac OS System 8.5+, 800×600 resolution
Win 95, 800×600 resolution

Cypriot Ministry of Education and Culture
Thoughts on the Participation of Cyprus in the Medi@terra events
To select the Cypriot participants in the Medi@terra International Exhibition, the Cypriot Ministry of Education and Culture held a nationwide contest. Interest on the part of artists was mainly directed into the following genres:

1. Two-way installation
2. CD-ROM
3. Video Art

The works were chosen by the Selection Committee of Works and Artists at the Ministry of Education and Culture, which was made up of:

1. Eleni Nikita – senior education official, art historian
2. Marina Vryonidou – art historian, Director of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation
3. Andreas Pharmakas – artist, President of the Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts
4. Akis Haralambous – architect, collector of art works.

Having studied the works submitted, the committee selected the following:

A. In the genre of interactive installations, a work by Achilleas Kentonis and Maria Papaharalambous entitled “Theocles the Cyclopian”. The work was selected for its originality, humour and the clever way in which it utilises modern technology. The Ministry of Education and Culture is subsidising half the the cost of building the work.
B. Works entitled “Mirror” and “On Exit Frame Me” by Yiannis Colakides and Helene Black in the genre of CD-ROM. These two works were judged to be very mature, and to have a particularly well developed digital image vocabulary. The message of peace was also conveyed by these works and the high quality of their architecture.
C. In the video-art genre, Cyprus will be represented by the artist Lia Lapithi, whose work was judged to be original and to have a particularly interesting aesthetic viewpoint.

1. On Exit Frame Me by Yiannis Colakides and Helene Black – CD-ROM
2. Mirror by Yiannis Colakides and Helene Black – CD-ROM
3. Theocles the Cyclopian by Achilleas Kentonis and Maria Papacharalambous – Internactive Installation
4. Deep Skin by Lia Lapithi – Video