What is SPEED SHOW?

SPEED SHOW is an open exhibition format initiated by Free Art and Technology (http://fffff.at/tag/speedshow/). SPEED SHOW can be organized by anyone. Simply ‘hit an Internet-cafe, rent all computers they have and run a show on them for one night’!

On 18 November 2010, Videotage and MIACA will present a one-night SPEED SHOW curated by Japanese curator and researcher Hitomi Hasegawa at Fresh Cyber Café in Wanchai, Hong Kong. Featuring Internet art of internationally renowned artists from all over the world, this SPEED SHOW – Peep Show! will explore the new horizons of digital voyeurism. Everyone is invited to join this party at the cozy café, to see some art, have some drink or, well, check some emails.

As manifested by Berlin-based new media artist/curator Aram Bartholl,
‘All art works of the participating artists need to be on-line (not necessarily public) and are shown in a typical browser with standard plug-ins. Any creative physical modification to Internet cafe itself is not allowed. The show is public and takes place during normal opening hours of the Internet cafe/shop. All visitors are welcome to join the opening, enjoy the art (and to check their email.)’

Curated by: Hitomi Hasegawa

Participating Artists:
Adam Enfroy (USA)
Candy Factory (Japan)
Cory Arcangel (USA)
Evan Roth (France)
Chen Hangfeng (China)
James Powderly (Korea)
MAP Office (Hong Kong)
Manolis Perrakis (Hong Kong)
Rafael Rozendaal (Netherland)
Shiro Masuyama (Germany)
Yangachi (Korea)
Yu Araki (Japan)
Zhou Xiaohu (China)

The peep box has its origins in the 15th century European invention of a box for viewing pictures through a peephole. It was most often used as a means of showing a series of explicit photographs. As a machine to peep through a small hole at a series of sexually explicit images, it spreads throughout the world.

Around the start of the 20th century the peep box began to disappear, as this space of voyeuristic desire shifted to the cinema hall. Today, however, the Internet appears to be an optimal contemporary medium for satisfying voyeuristic desires.

According to Freud, there are two types of scopophiliac: the voyeur, who revels in private act of seeing, and the exhibitionist, who pursues the public act of being seen. Through applications like Facebook, Youtube, blogs and Twitter, 21st century Internet interfaces seek to satisfy both of these impulses: not only the desire to watch, but also the desire to be watched. Moreover, for the voyeur, the Internet renews the possibility of viewing in complete privacy. Opportunities for use have also expanded. One can easily “peep” using a mobile phone during free time at work, in the park, or while riding the train. Finally, the amount of available content has increased dramatically with the turn to the Internet. The entertainment offered by television or film is presented in a fixed format with polished production standards. In contrast, the rawness of Internet communication provides its own voyeurstic delights – the seeming ability to spy on the world more directly.

Exploring these new horizons of digital voyeurism, Peep Show contains a range of online art works by contemporary artists exploring 21st century voyeurism and scopophilia from both aesthetic and political perspectives.

Date: 18 November 2010 (Thu)
Time: 7pm-10pm
Venue: Fresh Cyber Café
Address: Flat C, Floor 2, King Tao Building, 94-100 Lockhart Road, Wanchai (Press 2C for Entry)