Title: Objects and traces in space: connecting locative media with contemporary art

Authors: Gemma San Cornelio

Addresses: Estudis de Ciències de la Informació i la Comunicació, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Rambla del Poble Nou, 156, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract: New media technologies related with location (GPS, wireless networks, etc.) are becoming an interesting interface to explore the relationship between objects and space. Emerging art practices coined with the term 'locative media' engage precisely with such technologies and bring to light some debate on the conception of materiality and space, thus fostering new ways of space exploration and experience. This paper aims to contribute to the theorisation of locative media through bridging different humanistic perspectives that include: new media, contemporary art, and social science theories. The main subjects of discussion are, on the one hand, the notions of objectuality and materiality, and on the other, the notions of space and place. I will relate such theories with locative media art projects, ending with the case studies of Canal Accessible (2006) and Bio Mapping (2004), and suggesting that locative media could aid in the social transformation of space.

Keywords: locative media; space transformation; social transformation; place; performance; objects; subjects; contemporary art; new media technologies; GPS; global positioning systems; wireless networks; materiality; objectuality; social sciences; location; localisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2013.053555

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2013 Vol.6 No.2, pp.181 - 195

Accepted: 12 Mar 2012
Published online: 25 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article