Georgia Institute of Technology

Zombies vs. Robots at Le Flash 2009

Atlanta (September 30, 2009) —Carl DiSalvo, assistant professor of Digital Media in Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College, and David Holstius are debuting their work We Are Survival Machines at Le Flash 2009 on October 2.

Le Flash 2009 is the opening event of the Atlanta Celebrates Photography festival. It takes place from dusk to midnight on Walker and Peters streets, taking over Atlanta’s historic Castleberry Hill neighborhood for one night. The event features photography, video and performance. For a sneak peek of We Are Survival Machines, see the video at left. For the curatorial statement and directions, see below.

We Are Survival Machines
Carl DiSalvo and David Holstius

The future is now: Zombies vs. robots. The battle for humanity between the undead and sentient machines has commenced with humans as collateral.
Part Hollywood, part cultural commentary, We Are Survival Machines melds two potent symbols of popular culture--both with contemporary sub-texts--into a pulsating Cinemax-inspired immersive installation. Commissioned by The Andy Warhol Museum in 2008, We Are Survival Machines uses actors, academic robots and cutting-edge Gigapan technology to emulate the rich and, at times, gross-out traditions of both Zombie and robot films. And yes, the ultimate purveyor of popular culture--Andy Warhol himself--had his own fascination with both the living undead and those task-driven, often anthropomorphic machines that are meant to serve us.

This work is particularly relevant in 2009. Zombie culture is everywhere, with Zombies as stand-ins for bereft, out-of-control systems that survive in a suspended reality of the undead, i.e. global financial systems. The field of robotics is a serious one, and robots have been doing a lot of our business for decades. But, there can be uneasiness about them, captured by both science fiction and horror writers, fueled by fears that we humans can lose control when robots surpass both our intelligence and skill levels. In fact, the title of this installation--We Are Survival Machines--is appropriated from the work of scientist Richard Dawkins in his description of humans. In DiSalvo's and Holstius' world-view, it is the Darwinian survival skills of robots and Zombies that fight for humanity. The battle has just begun.

The exhibit is curated by Louise. E. Shaw.

MARTA/Parking and Shuttle Information:
The Green Solution: Park @ Lindbergh, Inman Park or Avondale MARTA stations. Take the train south to Garnet Station. Exit Trinity side.

Public parking is available in lots at the intersection of Trinity Avenue and Spring Street.

Le Flash Shuttle service is provided every 10 minutes. The route loops from Peters Street at Castleberry Street to Garnett Station, with one stop each way at the Trinity Avenue public parking lot.

Look for Le Flash Shuttle signs or ask volunteers in pink Le Flash t-shirts for directions to Castleberry Hill. From Garnett station, the walk to Castleberry Hill takes 10 minutes.

For more information, contact David Terraso (Phone: 404-385-2966)

Related Links

• Carl DiSalvo
• Le Flash Atlanta 2009

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