Methods in Conserving Time-Based Contemporary New Media and Collection as Pilgrimage

Time-based and digital artworks exist beyond being fixed objects, existing as behaviours dependent on technological systems that evolve over time. Conservation of digital artworks and networked infrastructures are deeply tied to specific technological environments, making them especially vulnerable to obsolescence as software and hardware change. 'Hyperviolet' is an ongoing study in digital world-building and physical handmade craft that ensues from long and gruelling pilgrimages in the real world. This talk will review the history of conservation of collections of time based contemporary new media and introduce the theory behind 'collection as pilgrimage' – an art practice infusing craft material and digital worldbuilding by incorporating digital archiving and preservation methods like 3D scanning artifacts on lengthy walks, often referred to as 'derivés'.

About Alexa Ann Bonomo:
Alexa Ann Bonomo is an artist and scholar who makes 3D simulated worlds, hand bound books, and sculptures with embedded short film elements. Her research focuses on processes surrounding craftsmanship, bookbinding with interactive digital elements while leading to a focus on lore building in game engines. Often through the lens of 'collection as pilgrimage', Alexa infuses craft material and digital worldbuilding by incorporating digital archiving and preservation methods like 3D scanning artifacts on lengthy walks, often referred to as 'derivés'. Her work has been shown at Le Cube Garges (FR), Centre de Cultura Contemporània (SP), Montreal Conference Centre (CA), and The Exploratorium and Gray Area (US). She is an MScR candidate from The University of Edinburgh, received her MFA from University of California, Davis, and BFA from Towson University. Alexa curates an offsite and online learning + arts collective called Underneath (@underneath.study) and is a researcher in The World Engines Lab.