The TRASH Web Project

Overview

"We cannot avoid being related to rubbish: connected, separate, either way we are implicated. What is the nature of these implications? What ethical principals do they enable? What selves do they produce?"
Gay Hawkins, Plastic Bags, Living with Rubbish, International Journal of Cultural Studies, Vol 4 (1), 2001

The TRASH website is a rich media artwork that explores themes of waste and cultural residue. Interactive media is used to incorporate text, sound and images related to the waste theme. Audiences are able to explore this subject in an engaging and meaningful way, from writings on the theme through to visual and sound responses.

The Waste theme is compelling and timely. An exploration of waste is closely related to what we value as individuals and communities. What is considered TRASH, what is considered worthy of retention and memory? Many artists work with cultural residue in the creation of new artistic work. The TRASH website will be created to explore a range of issues around environmental and corporate waste and cultural residue.

Victorian interactive media producers Toy Satellite have been engaged by Experimenta to create the TRASH website. The group of artists, designers and programmers from Toy Satellite who will create the site include Justina Curtis, Andrew Garton, Kim Bounds and Jary Nemo. Hosting assistance has been provided by Bruce Morrison (c2o).

The site includes material from an earlier, collaborative stage of the project. The early stage of the TRASH Web Project will facilitate collaboration between individuals and groups in Australia and overseas who are involved with issues related to waste, as artists, activists, academics, environmentalists and others.

Students at Swinburne Applied Media have participated in all stages of the project development and production.

Timeline

• June 2001 - Research effective methods to engage participants in an online forum
• August 2001 - Facilitated discussion
• August - September 2001 - Website production
• Sunday 14 October 2001, 3 - 4.30pm - TRASH Web Forum Online
• 19 October - 3 November 2001 - Exhibition, Blackbox, Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne

Site Credits

Produced by Toy Satellite and c2o.

TRASH Web Project:

• Creative Director/Project Manager - Andrew Garton
• Webmaster/WOK Implementation - Justina Curtis
• Technical/WOK Implementation - Bruce Morrison

TRASH Web Project Flash Interface:

• Flash Interface Design - Kim Bounds
• Flash Programming Assistance - Jeremy Yuille
• Sound Design - Andrew Garton

Acknowledgements

Produced with the assistance of Film Victoria's Digital Media Fund. The Digital Media Fund is funded by Multimedia Victoria as part of the Victorian Government's Connecting Victoria policy, which aims to bring the benefits of technology to all Victorians.

Experimenta acknowledges the financial assistance of the Australian Film Commission.

Experimenta is supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria - Department of Premier and Cabinet.