David Aston

ARTWORK DETAILS

David Aston
ULO Rotary
Antique one arm bandit and unidentified mid 19th century tintype photographs
2010-11
73 H x 49 W x 20.5 D cm

FURTHER DETAILS

The Unidentified Living Object (ULO) Series includes sculptural photographic works which explore themes of identity, context, and commoditisation through the curation of anonymous 19th century photographs. These early works also explore the potential for both copyright and copywrong in the re-evaluation and recontextualisation of historical and personal objects. 

Antique photographs of anonymous sitters are purchased and their original context recorded before they are repackaged as commodities, altering the contemporary appraisal of their age, provenance, personal and social value.

ULO Rotary is an antique one arm bandit with mid 19th century American tintype ULOs (ferrotypes or direct positive photographs printed on metal|). The machine is fully functional and interactive, and rotates and rewards viewers when the duplicated photographs align.

ULO Rotary is my first sculptural work since leaving art school and marks the first use of ready-made antique machines as a mechanism for introducing chance, randomness and gamification to the work. A device also used for The New Oracles series.

EXHIBITIONS

2011 | The Rooftop Gallery | Soho | London