Walking the Machine

Walking the Machine (2020) Video, 24’40”.

Description
Shot in the open-world game “Horizon Zero Dawn,” the video explores the drawing possibilities of the snow in “The Frozen Wilds.” This part of the game area offers players the experience of very realistic, digital snow. In that snow, the main character of the game leaves footsteps. Aloy explores that feature by making a long hike, during which she makes tree footstep-drawings. It took the artists countless hours to clear the area of monsters so that the walk is experienced in piece: no fighting, no storyline, just enjoying the sound of Aloy’s footsteps and the leaving of traces. Combined with an exploration of snowy mountains in Google Earth, the peace meanders between two digital realities.

Screenings
• Open air screening at minus20degrees | festival for art & architecture in Flachau, Austria, 2020.
• Installation gallery screening during AmsterdamArt 2021 @ galeriedudokdegroot during the solo Grazing Choreographies.
• Walking the Machine was selected by curator Isil Ezgi Çelik, for the exhibition Becoming-Machine, a VR & physical exhibition in London at The ArtSect Gallery; 2023.
• Walking the Machine was part of the exhibition “Tidings from the Two-dimensional/Berichten uit het platte vlak” at Kunstenlab Deventer 2024

Curatorial
Double and single-screen version available.

References
 “A Line Made by Walking” by Richard Long.