Alex Murray
Ultraface
- 2019 - 2024
Co-production: GVN908
Ultraface, initiated by artists GVN908 and Alex Murray, is a programmed film that renders in real-time. It dynamically assembles live footage from security cameras and sound from online databases.
The video presented at hybrida.space is a render from 1 September 2024. The live work can be accessed at http://ultraface.xyz (sometimes it requires a refresh if the page is stuck).
(curatorial text)
Ultraface appeals to our collective muscle memory of hitting the play button and keeping our eyes fixed on the screen. Viewers of the filmic work are treated with wide-angled shots from urban landscapes and places of transit all over the world, which keep being presented in an endless, disembodied stream of fragments of mundane and orderly visuals.
However, any viewing experience of Ultraface will take an eerie turn when it becomes clear that it offers no escape; it has no end or pause button. At first sight, Ultraface’s infrastructure is reminiscent of the surveillance society we live in.
But whoever decides to stay with the artistic work, might discover that what it is really offering to us is its poetic potential: a camera pointed at the sky, the accidental combination of an image of an airport with the sound of trains, a bird sticking out its head of a nest. Ultraface essentially serves as a dynamic template where such insignificant moments can be woven together into a new cinematic narrative.
In the makers’ own words: “to recompose these fragments is perhaps the only liberation we have”.
– text by Frederiek Simons
Alex Murray is a Sydney-based artist working with video, sound composition and programming. His work explores theories of history and the disorientation of the present.
Digital Series #1
CON GRAZIA
- Alex Murray
- Nicholas Korody
- Emma Charles
- Hashdox / Egor Kraft
- Jacob Hurwitz-Goodman
- Do Not Research
- Dana Dawud
- Jacob Broms Engblom
- Miglė Vyčinaitė
- New Scenario
- Rustan Söderling
- Alex Declino
Mediations; the infrastructure of our digital existence, the pervasive reach of surveillance, the fluidity of online identity, and the boundless possibilities of world-building. Each pixel, line of code, and digital construct serves as both canvas and commentary. The virtual bleeds seamlessly into the real, illuminating the myriad ways in which technology shapes, distorts, and enriches our lives.
Throughout our platform, we feature a rotating selection of works from artists at various stages of their careers, each bringing a unique perspective to the digital conversation. Despite their diverse methods and expressions, these artists share a common goal: to transcend traditional art world structures and engage audiences on new, digital terms. Each segment begins with a contribution from a theorist or platform that has significantly influenced the discourse around the theme, setting the stage for the artistic explorations that follow. These introductions, whether in the form of talks, readings, or essays, are not just preludes; they are integral parts of the narrative we weave. They provide context, provoke thought, and invite critical engagement. By integrating these contributions into our web interface, we ensure that each segment is both engaging and accessible, creating a rich, ongoing archive that serves as a resource for future exploration.
A journey through the digital—a slice of binary space where the boundaries of the real are constantly being redrawn, and where every work is an invitation to see the digital realm anew. As you navigate our platform, we hope you find it a space for both discovery and reflection. Here, art and technology converge, illuminating the complexities of our interconnected world.
This project is made possible with the support of the Swedish Art Council.