Where Do We Go, 2023
3 CRT TVs, Atari 2600 consoles, custom cartridges, Plexiglass furniture
31" x 59.5" x 34.5"
“Where do we go when we stay in the same place?” This question has been haunting me for years, at least since 2003 when I used it as the opening line of a poem. Eventually, the question became a koan which I am still trying to solve.
The work is comprised of CRT TVs with transparent cases connected to 3 Atari 2600 game consoles (circa 1977). Each game device holds a transparent cartridge programmed with a different sentence. Together, they form the phrase “Where do we go / when we stay / in the same place?”
All the devices are on two wide clear pedestals, providing a sense of transparency and visibility. Viewers are invited to walk around the piece and reflect on the observable analog technology. The clear case TVs–which allow people to see the inside components–were produced and sold to jails in order to prevent smuggling between convicts. They all belonged to prison inmates, augmenting the presence and intention of the blinking existential text.
When we stay in the same place, we are physically located in one spot. Yet, our minds can wander and explore different realms through imagination, introspection, and contemplation. In a metaphorical sense, staying in the same place could refer to remaining stagnant or being mentally stuck. In such cases, we might go on an internal journey seeking new perspectives, or engaging in creative endeavors. It could be a place of self-discovery, personal growth, or even a deeper understanding of the world around us. That happens when we dream or meditate, but also when we are lying on a hospital bed, or even when we are in jail.