Light Art Database
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Ilkka Paloniemi: Telegraph of Time

Telegraph of Time was sending morse code reading 2020-2021 via lasers and radio at the turn of the year.

Telegraph of Time, a radio laser installation situated in Helsinki Olympic stadium tower, was operating for approximately 18 hours at the turn of the year, from dusk till dawn. Dynamic Morse code reading 2020-2021 was laser beamed to eight cardinal directions and broadcasted simultaneously to FM radio frequency 105.8MHz. New Year's promises, wishes, and dreams could be heard in radio transmission at the same time. These messages were delivered by the audience and read by speech synthesis machines.  

 

Communication has developed from early optical telegraph to a modern information network where locomotives of data transfer at the speed of light. Are the artificial intelligences more scoring players in the field of communication in future? Time is particularly meaningful to us right now, and while we are living these peculiar and remarkable times, it may be a good moment to stop and check the course in which we are hurdling thru the cosmos with this planetary vehicle.  

 

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/511498353

MA, b. 1964, lives in Espoo, Finland

Information

Artwork finished in: 2020

Light sources, materials, and equipment:   Light source: laser. Other: radio transmission, live PA.

Dimensions of the work, approximately (width-height-depth):  ---

Electricity consumption: Power current (specification).

Does the artwork use sound? Ambient sound.

Support and other structures: The work includes all the necessary structures.

Structures, hardware, or other equipment needed from the client:  ---

Minimum height of the space: ---

Minimum square meters of the space: ---

Requirements for the space: darkness, temperature, colouring (light / dark / specific colour / other) etc.: ---

Building time and people required (estimate): ---

Artist's presence: Artist or their representative must be present during building.

Seen before at: New Year, Helsinki, 2020-2021.