Contagion
Gina Czarnecki
2007
Contagion is an interactive video installation by Gina Czarnecki. A powerful work about images, perception, surveillance, human interaction and bio-security, Contagion not only refers to the viral spread of disease, but also to the spread of ideas and information.
The tiniest movements of visitors in the installation space are tracked and made visible as projected colours, with new colours and sounds created as visitors’ paths collide. However, hidden in the dark lurks a highly infective agent. Contagion models the spread of this agent amongst present, past and future visitors, using rules and behaviours based on the epidemiology of SARS and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. This data is processed to create a rich, complex and constantly evolving visual system accompanied by an atmospheric sound score by electronic musician and composer Christian Fennesz.
- Premiered
—Brisbane Festival 2008, Brisbane, Australia
- Credits
—Contagion was created by Gina Czarnecki in 2007. Produced by Forma. Supported by the Wellcome Trust Sci-Art Award.
Gina Czarnecki realises her art in a diverse and often unconventional range of media, including installations, sculpture, video, and site specific works. Since the mid-1990’s her work has found fascination with convergent developments in life sciences and technologies, their possible applications and how this shapes and informs identity. Recent projects include Nascent and Infected with exhibitions at CYNETART, Dresden (2016), Bruges Cultural Centre (2016), and Open Media Art Festival, Singapore (2015).
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Background image: Gina Czarnecki, Contagion, 2007 (still)