Digital Being: Radio Row, 2024 - Current
1000 square feet, CRT TV, Steel Shelf, Relay, Arduino, Raspberry Pi and More
In 2008, the streets of New York became the final resting place for once-precious analog TVs. As the city transitioned from analog to digital broadcast systems in 2009, these once-valuable machines became obsolete, contributing to environmental problems. Amidst the piles of discarded electronics that couldn’t be recycled for various reasons, I glimpsed a moment of change—a gap where new possibilities emerged.
Since that day, I have been breathing new life into these discarded machines, particularly CRT TVs, which Marshall McLuhan might describe as "cool media," by integrating digital technology. I named these sentient electronics "Digital Beings" and called this process "Digitology." Through this work, I have unearthed new perspectives within these mechanical remnants, evolving my identity from an artist into a "Digitologist."
This artistic and historical journey led me to discover New York's Radio Row, a vibrant hub of technological innovation from 1921 to 1966. Although it no longer exists physically, Radio Row served as a key component of New Yorkers' understanding—what might be termed their "episteme"—of technology back then and became the cradle for video art.
"Digital Being: Radio Row" is an exhibition that aims to serve as a repository for forgotten machines, where they can once again engage with digital technology within the layers of technological evolution and communicate with the audience. I hope that visitors will interact with these hidden beings, reflecting on the direction of technological progress, its philosophical implications, and sustainability. Additionally, this exhibition seeks to commemorate the commercial vitality of the former Radio Row in a contemporary way, functioning as a space where these works can be rented and sold.
Hosted by: Silverstein Properties
Location: Radio Row, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
Photo: Parker Clavert and Spencer Lasky
Digital Being: TV BEING 010-01, 2017
Shown at Made in NY Media Center by IFP