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Sleep Mode, The Art of the Screensaver

posted March 16, 2017 #

The Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam has no shortage of interesting things to offer - from a rad website to engaging art installations, there's a lot to take in. This Rafael Rozendaal installation Sleep Mode, The Art of the Screensaver is right up my alley. It is, as it sounds, an exhibition of screensavers, largely from the early days of computing.

The playlist of examples is a nice trip down memory lane but this interview with the artist is a nice reminder that it's not just about nostalgia. Screensavers served an actual purpose (prevent screen burn) and were one of the first examples of widespread computer art.

The physical installation is a series of large scale screens, immersing the viewer in a way they've likely not experienced the works before.