Structural Patterns

I’ve been a fan of Keny Marshall’s work for quite a while. It’s rigorous work that resurrects discarded industrial materials through interactivity and digital engines. It’s clear that he has an aesthetic love for metal, rust, and 19th century constructions which gives him an ample pool of inexpensive materials to rework into captivating mechanized installations.

His current exhibition “Apophenia” at SPACE Gallery (812 Liberty Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh) encompasses a cacophony of metal pipes, brass horns, old television monitors, breathing bellows, surveillance cameras and a couple of small fish. At the heart of this industrial size acoustic installation are the two puffer fish in a large round glass bowl. The fish are monitored by a couple single channel surveillance cameras that feed two televisions. Taped onto the televisions are photo cells that capture the movement of the fish and then trigger motors that actuate the bellows and cause horns to be heard throughout the installation.

The work clearly reminds me of Tim Hawkinson’s installations, but with a very different aesthetic – that of a 19th century electro-acoustic technology lab. It’s exciting to see this sort of work in a society driven by increasingly miniaturized, slick, wireless entertainment gadgetry. Tinguely would have a blast. “Apophenia” continues through Dec. 31. SPACE Gallery, 812 Liberty Ave., Downtown. 412-325-7723.  Photos by Ryan Sigesmund