Hexis Sermon (2010)

Apple Iphone (jailbroken) running RJDJ application / Laptop computer running Resolume software / Broken Casio MT-70 keyboard - circuit board exposed / MIDI controller / STORN Noise Box / PA System / CRT monitors / Black Cloth / Candles / Black Robes / Fluorescent scarve / Altar piece constructed from disused computer hardware

*******     This work playfully explores the links between modern technologies and spirituality in particular the notion of science as religion     *******

The work included both installation and performance.
An altar was set up one day before the sermon with a centrepiece of found technological objects, screens at the side running abstract glitching visualisations and an embedded reactive sound installation that used feedback loops to generate a drone type din which was fed by noises in the surrounding space such as passing footsteps and conversations.
This installation ran for several days preceding the sermon while posters invited all to the First Service of the Pagan Church of Technology.
The service itself saw the high priest enter the space, light the candles and preach from the alter. The service included hymns (sing - "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" - Arthur C Clarke), a musical interlude on noise box and broken down synthesiser and readings.

This work was presented at The University of Tasmania in 2010.

A very short video excerpt taken before the video camera's ironic death

super low (camcorder) quality

 copyright Nick Smithies 2018