Duto Hardono (How to perform John Cage's 4'33'' on a loop delay as demonstrated by a band of cacti [2009])

Author: ruangupa
Origin: Influx - Strategi seni multimedia di Indonesia
Time: 2011, JAN
Keywords: ruangrupa, Duto Hardono

Abstract

The relationship that is built between new media art and its public has delivered a mixture between two contrasting spatial realities: one that belongs to the public, and the other to the artists. The condition is a result of the diminishing boundary between the two realities. The mixture could also be understood as a whole new reality formed by the users of communication-information technology, new media.

How to perform John Cage's 4'33'' on a loop delay as demonstrated by a band of  cacti, 2009

According to Duto Hardono, it is highly possible for Indonesian new media art to be developed by the members of the wide spread video game communities. However, we cannot compare this with what is happening in other countries. Duto stated his pessimistic opinion on this fact, "We are living in the third world dimension, what are you hoping for?" What he is saying is that the issue of technology, including its transformation and circulation, is closely related to geopolitical positioning between the developed countries and their developing counterparts, But in the artistic realm, this condition delivered similar possibilities of newness since technology and art are simultaneously relaying their age. Being faced with this condition, Indonesian new media artists must be aware of their positioning in the middle of a very rapid flow of information.

The acceleration of technological advancement does not happened in developing countries such as Indonesia. Duto Hardono does not consider his works as new media art works, because "the media I've been using are usually already obsolete, so how on earth could they be considered new media?" Even so, he mentioned that new media could still be considered as the base for his practice in expressing ideas on aural (audio) perception through perceptual essence and sensation brought by the medium. These mental constructions were formulated as antitheses against old media art by focusing on the basic fundamental idea of 'time', a focus that is impossible to be represented by the old media. Always working by himself independently, it is only by way of these chosen 'new media' that Duto Hardono could express his intentions.

So, could new media be considered as a kind of extension of conventional media in art? Why?
Maybe. Let's imagine, if Da Vinci were to live during the current era, would he be familiar with  Adobe Illustrator?

And will new media eventually give birth to a new aesthetic language?
I don't know about new, but it's going to be different for sure.

Regarding the utilization of there new media, are you using references or other artists' idea in your works?
Yes. (Duto's work titled as "How to perform John Cage's 4'33'' on a loop delay as demonstrated by a band of cacti")

Does this new media art work affected the audience in any specific way? Do you have any experience in involving the audience in your work?
Yes, and the funniest thing is when they (the audience) were not even aware that they had been in a work of art.

According to your artistic observation, is the development of new media art, even globally, going to render the practice of old media art obsolete obsolete, or will the one merely go beyond the other, or otherwise?
I'll answer with a quote: "We exist in a unique moment within the human narrative, where primitivism coalesces with modernity, and the wisdom of the ancients is embraced by 21st century visionaries.
The great cycle is closing in, as we loop back to our true origins, while simultaneously bursting forth a magnificent new fractal reality."