Sketch of the concept, 2003
Sketch of the concept, 2003
When you were a little child, did you ever imagine that the earth would not be flat? When you first heard that the earth is actually a sphere, did you think about the antipode location far underneath your feet where the people must be living upside down? Did you imagine what it would be to dig a hole through the earth and meet the people at the other end?
The idea of Hole in the Earth started from the fascination about how the other side of the earth would be. It's a universal concept to which anybody anywhere in the world could relate.
The installation Hole in the Earth represents a virtual hole which goes all the way through the earth. Two identical interfaces are placed at the opposite locations. One is in Rotterdam and the other one is on the other side of the earth. Through this "hole" people can see each other in their surroundings and also talk to each other.
The interface is realised using a combination of a computer, a very bright display, a camera, speakers, and a microphone. The display shows the nearly real-time image of the other side. If you look at the "hole" in Rotterdam, you see the sky, buildings, and the people at the other side. From the other side you see the surrounding and people in Rotterdam. There is a big time difference between the two locations. When it is day-time at one of them it will be night-time at the other side.
The purpose of the work is to share imagination beyond cultures and languages. Because of its interactive quality, it is intended to be placed in open public space. It's a permanent installation working 24 hours, 7 days a week. The installation becomes part of its environment.
(December 1st, 2003)