Seismoscopes

The series "Seismoscopes" consists of devices that detect vibration around them, from footsteps to earthquakes, and record this vibration on paper using an automated XY-plotter. As each Seismoscope registers any seismic wave it is programmed to draw an illustration of a single Skeptical philosopher, over and over again. The first Seismoscope, for example, always draws the portrait of Portuguese philosopher Francisco Sanches, author of the seminal treatise "That Nothing is Known". The actual traces of the drawing follow a random path, although staying within the portrait image that has been burned into the memory of the device, --thus, every drawing is different. The artwork is the device itself not the drawings it makes: the collector or curator may give these drawings away, they may exhibit them as a pile on the floor or hang them neatly on the walls.

There will be approximately 20 Seismoscopes in total.

General info

Spanish name:
Seismoscopios
Year of creation:
2009

1: Francisco Sanchez

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
Portuguese (1550-1623), author of "That Nothing is Known"
Edition:
1 Edition

2: Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
Persian (1058-1111), author of "The Incoherence of Philosophers"
Edition:
1 Edition

3: Sextus Empiricus

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
Greek (160-210), author of "Against the Mathematicians"
Edition:
1 Edition

4: David Hume

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
Scotish (1711-1776), author of "An Enquiry concerning human understanding"
Edition:
1 Edition

5: Pyrrho of Elis

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
Greek (360-270 BC), proponent of Acatalepsy (impossibility of comprehending a thing)
Edition:
1 Edition

6: Nicolas Malebranche

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
French (1638-1715), dedicated his work to refute Cartesians
Edition:
1 Edition

7: Juan Huarte de San Juan

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
Spanish (1529-1588), author of "Examen de ingenios para las ciencias"
Edition:
1 Edition

8: Baruch Spinoza

Technique:
modified XY Plotter, vibration sensor, ipod, paper, stainless stand
Dimensions:
XY plotter measures 41 x 45 x 17 cm, sits on a podium that measures 115 x 41 x 45 cm and draws on tabloïd paper (11x17 in.)
Additionnal info:
Dutch (1632-1677), vehement attacker of superstition
Edition:
1 Edition

Exhibitions


Credits

  • Programming: Stephan Schulz
  • Hardware: Stephan Schulz
  • Metal stand: Pierre Fournier
  • Production Assistance: David Lemieux, Karine Charbonneau

Bibliography

  • "Rafael Lozano-Hemmer PG." Prepared Guitar, 13 Jan. 2015. Madrid, Spain, 2015. (english) (Websites)
  • Davis, Ben. "Light Touch." Artnet, 23 Oct. 2009. New York City, New York, United States, 2016. (english) (Websites)