ELFA

2014

“ELFA” is a real-time data visualization project that employs traditional media formats previously utilized for data storage before the digital age. One persistent challenge in data storage has been the loss of original data when overwriting, and this prompted my curiosity regarding how sound changes over time when repeatedly overwritten on magnetic tape.

To explore this concept, I chose to employ older media, specifically magnetic tape and reel-to-reel recorders. These devices held a nostalgic significance for me, as they evoked memories of my childhood, often spent playing with them alongside my father. For my data source, I collected narratives from former residents of the village where the artwork was exhibited. These narratives represented memories and the gradual dissolution and fragmentation of those memories over time.

The installation was showcased for a period of two weeks, during which the audio content changed daily in full view of visitors. Two magnetic tape recorders were integral to the setup, with one playing a loop of the recorded memories and the other simultaneously capturing what the first recorder played. The outcome was an abstract sound piece that revealed a unique auditory experience—one that would otherwise remain hidden and unheard.

Exhibitions
– 2014 9 – 21 August, “Marodatieri”, Contemporary Jurkalne, Jurkalne, LV