The Perpetual Light machine was first conceived by Paul Irving in 2012 and was built largely in a Brunswick studio by Paul and Chip during 2014 culminating in the installation and performances at the Walter Burley Griffin designed Incinerator Gallery over August and September 2014.
The Perpetual Light Machine is a sculptural object of 5m diameter, and includes a performance platform (stage) of 3.6m diameter 2.4m tall. Atop the sculpture, Autonomous Black perform a unique industrial music using a sculptural metal percussion rig, tools, electronics and field recordings, to create a music which reflects a fascination with mechanics and the products/detritus of industry. The whole performance rig remained with the installation during the exhibition creating an overall height of 4.5m. Autonomous Black performed live on opening night, Saturday afternoons and a special performance evening for Melbourne Fringe Festival.
The work used largely recycled and repurposed materials and objects, was self funded and built entirely by Autonomous Black. Six steel framed wedge segments are clad in semi dressed ex fence palings and weathered semi painted corrugated iron. Gaps between the six segments are curtained off, with an entrance and exit gained through red velvet curtains. Once inside the space, visitors can explore an intimate circular audiovisual world. The top sections of each segment contain multi faceted angular boxes completely mirror lined and featuring video art with accompanying soundtracks. Entrancing and psychedelic treatments of archival film are fused with new vision of relict industrial landscapes and activity. This six part video work is titled Intimate With Machines.
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- Incinerator Gallery 2014
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- Perpetual In Pink
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- Perpetual In Green
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- Segment detail
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- Interior space
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- Interior looking up
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- Segment portals
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- Fringe Festival
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- Fringe Festival Chip
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- Fringe Festival Paul
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- Pre opening from the stage
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- Pre opening from the stage
