The project I chose to write about was Robert Adrian’s The World in 24 Hours. The project was done in 1982. The main goal of the project was to keep mass communication around the world going on continuously for a full 24 hours. Adrian’s project was to keep people connected throughout the world through the use of telecommunications such as fax, computers, and videophones. He was using telecommunications as an art form, but in reality the human factor also played a role. However, during the project, there were many problems that occurred. The sound recording equipment broke down. Therefore, some things were not recorded and others were not photographed. The camera man even went home with the camera! During the project, they also ran out of video tape in the middle of the night. Also, one of the telephones died. Even though there were so many problems, Robert Adrian said that his art project was a success. He was able to demonstrate the emerging use of telecommunications as an art form. Today there are many art projects that deal with digital art through connectivity. In fact there are so many that we can overlook them as a part of our everyday life. I am talking of course about social networks and the devices we use to access them. The videophones Adrian was using has evolved into the video chat we use today. Also social networks such as Facebook and Twitter keep us connected to people around the world 24 hours a day. Even when we are not on the sites, they are still connecting to people around the world. Robert Adrian’s idea of being connected for 24 hours has turned into a reality. Our cellphones are never turned off, we get notifications and status up dates around the clock. All of these things are like the modern day version of Robert Adrian’s The World in 24 Hours and that is what I truly find interesting. That in some way, his art project has continued far past 24 hours.
