David Aston

ARTWORK DETAILS

David Aston
Hello World / Self-portrait as Janus (1975-1995 / 2025-2050 with programmable Apple-1 brain)
Hand blown glass, replica Apple-1, deconstructed antique typewriters, keyboard, digital display
24 H x 21 W x 14 D CM
2026

FURTHER DETAILS

The history of digital computing is relatively short in the context of human history. The first digital computers were was created in the mid 1940’s (ENIAC,1946). The early to mid 1970s saw the democratisation of computers as they made the transition from the head quarters of governments and corporation to individuals. These first personal computers were constructed or “home brewed” by hobbyists with the skills needed to source, construct and programme them. These hobbyists then went on to found the computer corporations which brought digital computing to our daily lives. Corporations like Apple whose first pre-assembled computer, the Apple-1, was conceived at the first Homebrew Computer Club meeting in March 1975. The very month I was born.

In just two generations we have transitioned from the first digital computers (1946), through the birth of AI (1956), personal computing (1970s), the internet (1983, 1993 public release), to quantum computing (1998). All eyes are now firmly set on data at scale to deliver an AI revolution and solutions to all of the world’s challenges. Hello World / Self-portrait as Janus (1975-1995 / 2025-2050 with programmable Apple-1 brain), is a diachronic self-portrait in the form of a programmable Janus. A contemporary Janus who resides over a world society in transition towards a fully digitised and AI-powered future.