What is a Zap?
Zap is short for ‘Zapped Artificial Picture’. The production of a Zap starts by feeding a series of queries into Google Image Search. A series consists of between 4 and 10 words. The first image generated in response to each word is considered the most important visual representation of that word, at that time, according to the current internet authority. The generated collection of images is subsequently assembled into a unique collage: a Zap. We cut, we tear and we rearrange until a new order is introduced into the chaos of word-image (dis-)association. The individual images are thus incorporated into a new context, creating a new tense state of meaning and random relations.
Using the ZapMachine We have outsourced the production of Zaps to a web application designed specifically for the purpose of generating Zaps. The ZapMachine is now in charge of the autonomous production of a potentially unlimited sequence of collages based on a predetermined input. Our ZapMachine selects images from the internet and manipulates these, creating ever new Zap collages. Out of the resulting works we select the Zap with the highest quality. The query term serves as the title of the final product.
ZapMachine @ Venice Bienale, Italy
With the help of Dropstuff and the BKVB fund we where able to present our work at the preview days of the Venice Biennale. Step 1: add a word using the ApFab touch-screen. Step 2: Our ZapMachine will grab an image from the Internet. This image is the most important visual representation of that word, at that time, according to the current Internet authority Google. Step 3: The individual images are incorporated into a new context, creating a new tense state of meaning and random relations.
With “Zapmachine: Who gave you the right?” we are asking the following questions: How much control do we have over the generated collage as artists? How much influence do you have on this process. How does the collage relate to the initial intention by which the image was uploaded on the Internet by the original author? Who is the author of this Zap collage?
Retort ++
“The Zen – Zap [ ] describes itself and trhough this gives itself shape. It’s that particular place on the internet. It is the internet on that particular place”
The Zen – Zap [ ] is the first Zap (Zapped Artificial Picture) not produced by ApFab, but by a web-based application developed during the NP3 Retort ++ Project. This ZapMachine continuously grabbs images from the Internet based on Google searches. It manipulates and combines these images and put them back on the net. For Retort + + ApFab put this machine to work to create two 40M2 sized collages located at NP3. As search queery we used: the size, material and GPS coordinates of two individual walls.