Divination A Romantic Mutiny in a Maelstrom of Data

Divination A Romantic Mutiny in a Maelstrom of Data
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Press interview Divination A Romantic Mutiny in a Maelstrom of Data
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'Divination: A Romantic Mutiny in a Maelstrom of Data' by Nancy Mauro-Flude.
Produced by Contemporary Art Tasmania.
The maiden voyage performance of Pyrate Queen and her crew, set sail for the duration of Dark Mofo 10–19 June 2016.
Toured in 2017 Radical Networks, Eyebeam New York and Beijing Media Art Biennale, CAFA Museum 2018. http://divination.cc

Divination - traditionally a method of visualising the unseen - highlights the ease of access to so-called ‘private data’ and offers an alternative view of the information we transmit daily. Audiences are chaperoned by human and non-human agents (‘chatbots’) called Pirate Girls, through an energetic collision of nautical mythology, computer culture and transgressive fiction. This performance explores our relationship with mysterious or communal forces and how they relate to 21C mass electronic surveillance programs. You, 'the audience' [remote or local] are invited to think about the Delphic relationship you may have with networks, signals, codes and other things you can not fully comprehend but may opt in to. The modern Pyrate Queen, is not asking for gold to attend - but your data for the crew's collective treasure chest - to steer the show.


Technical details:
'Divination: A Romantic Mutiny in a Maelstrom of Data' is a performance installation that highlights the high accessibility of so-called private data by actively operating a network as a performance tool. Using a distributed network of WiFi access points and social media bots, the artwork collects information about its audience and generates audio-visual experience.

Built using:
OpenWRT custom firmware
Modified captive portal (Wifidog)
Websockets JSON streaming for PureData


CREW
Artistic Director / Performer: Nancy Mauro Flude TAS
Executive Producer: Alexander Godschalk NL
Australian Producer Contemporary Art Tasmania: Kylie Johnson TAS
ProductiAssistantant – Technical co-Producer / Sound Composition: Nick Smithies TAS
Technical co-Producer / Digital Animation: Matt Daniels TAS
Lighting Design: Jason James TAS
Network Engineer: Alexei Blinov RU/UK
Network Communication: Danja Vasiliev GER/RU
Kinetic Stage Engineer: Guy Paramore TAS
Sound Engineer: Greg Gurr TAS
Storyteller: Jim Woff NSW
Digital Stage Technique / Web Design: Linda Dement NSW
Print Design: Cath Robinson TAS
Documentation Manager / Technical Assistant: Aaron Horsley TAS
Dramaturg: Briony Kidd TAS