VOICE_ERASE.PY

Neural Magazine artwork

I’m so honoured to have a new artwork featured in the seminal Neural magazine.

Neural is a printed magazine that was established in 1993 and focuses on new media art, electronic music and hacktivism. It was founded by Alessandro Ludovico and Minus Habens Records label owner Ivan Iusco in Bari (Italy).

In its very first issue (distributed in November 1993) there was the only translation in Italian of the William Gibson’s Agrippa (a book of the dead) book. Over the years it’s explored cyberpunk, electronic music, networks and BBS, virtual reality, media, science fiction and UFOs and so much more.

So, when the invitation to create an artwork for the magazine I was dearly flattered, especially since Neural has remained essential reading for anyone interested in how technology shapes creativity.

Created in the form of a pull-out removable poster “VOICE_ERASE.PY”presents a programming code listening to a human voice through a microphone, then converting the speech into text using Google’s recognition system — and then erasing that text completely. It’s a poetical use of code, with destabilising effects which would hopefully trigger a deeper awareness of our vocal relationship with the machine.

I felt that it was important to sometimes forget, especially at a time when almost everything is stored and recording for always today.

Neural reminds us of the value of thoughtful, critical engagement. Long may it continue to inspire, challenge, and amplify the voices shaping our sonic and digital futures.

Find out more here at Neural Magazine