In 1955, Eugene Polley (1915 – 2012) designed the first ever wireless remote control for the Zenith Radio Corporation. At the press of a button, the remote would magically flash an invisible light from across the room and turn your TV set on, off, or change channels, all without you budging from the couch. It was an invention that changed the nature of television.
Launching today at 18 Hewett is Chris Shen’s original artwork INFRA, a largescale installation that marks the evolution of TV technology. Shen has repurposed 625 discarded remote controls into an infrared sculpture, highlighting the unseen technology in our digital landscape:
“Each of the 625 remote controls is second-hand, without the corresponding TV set – the remotes were discarded, or deemed useless by their previous owner. I will reverse the roles of these devices that are intended to control our TVs, to become the TV itself. By exploring infrared technology, I hope to provide insight into a world that is by its very nature unseen.”
Every TV remote has a small infrared LED at the front. When viewed through infrared goggles a small light that cannot be seen normally becomes visible. Shen uses this invisible light to create a display capable of showing recognisable images in the form of live television, the infrared light then brings light to the room, but only in the infrared spectrum.
INFRA opens at 7pm on Thursday 17th January, 2013. A super limited run of Shen’s first edition INFRA bookwill be available at 18 Hewett Street from opening night.
www.18hewettstreet.co.uk/
showtime.arts.ac.uk/SHEN
