PSY-GEO-CONFLUX festival,Participant.Inc, New York City, May 2004

"Footprint mapping" is an attempt to create a digital map of streets and public spaces by gathering "footprints" of participants of the project.The artist creates DIY style digital mapping system consisting of cheap pedometer(step meter), digital compass, micro processor, web cam and laptop computer. All the system will be set on a custom made backpack so that one of the participants can try.

The map will be made from the information gathered from pedometer(step meter) to measure the distance by counting steps, digital compass to find directions for every single step, web cam which will be installed above of the person and look down to take digital photographs of surroundings for each step. Laptop computer generates dynamic collage of photographs in real time and show it on the screen so that all the participants can shere the process.

Participant can go anywhere includes inside of building, subway station, etc. As long as the memory of laptop is filled up with data of photographs or battery is run out. End of each day, the artist try to gather each participant's footprint map into single digital collage. Then other participants may find he/she was walking on somebody's footprint.

The result and process of mapping will be documented and updated on website and/or exhibition place( or something like information center of the festival), where each mapping tour will start.

The aim of the artwork is how we can implement the concept of "Psychogeographycal map" with modern technology. I suppose the goal is still far away. Perhaps the thinking of Psychogeography(which was a sort of counter culture in 50's) and new technology does not fit each other. But think about how musecians use new technology to create street style musics and songs? There must be the way to do this. Since the artist wants to shere the vision as well as the process of development with the others,the artwork is pretty much process oriented. You will see the change and development as the technic, idea and technology advances.

Although we have GPS, wireless device and pretty fast computers, this kind of attempt has never be examined and tried well yet. For example, most of "GPS art" only goes to where GPS works.

However, what those Situasionists (artists who made Psychogeographycal maps) targeted was the life and experience in modern cities as a counterpart of modernism mind that dominated urbanism and design world in the middle of 20th century. Since my idea was parsuing their way with aviable technology, I had to create the system for the artwork by myself.

NewYork city, Lower Eastside. May 13th, 2004


NewYork city, Lower Eastside. May 15th, 2004

Copyright 2004-, Noriyuki Fujimura