Philipp Artus: Snail Trail
Artist(s):
Title:
- Snail Trail
Exhibition:
Creation Year:
- 2011
Medium:
- Laser animation
Category:
Artist Statement:
The concept for the animation stems from Artus’ reflections on the processes of exponential evolutionary acceleration in different periodic ages, Darwin’s theory of evolution, and the manner in which environment influences our own communication and behavior.
Technical Information:
Philipp Artus’ snail trail is a 360-degree laser animation loop projected onto a column. The two-minute animation relates the story of a snail which, in response to its environment, keeps evolving new means of locomotion, ultimately inventing the wheel and eventually devolving back to its original form. The projection surface is made from a phosphorescent material creating an afterglow that slowly fades out. As a result of the phosphorescent trails, viewers can simultaneously see what happens, what has happened, and what will happen. This reflection on
time is elaborated further through the endlessly cycling structure of the work as well as through the recurring pulse of sound and light, which refers to periodic natural phenomena like the tides or the seasons.
