Two alpacas walk on a touch-sensor LED floor running Conway’s Game of Life program, their movement and interaction generating patterns beneath them. The alpacas act as physical avatars within a virtual space, while alluding to the psychedelic mind-spaces explored by the pre-Andean Civilizations that domesticated them.

Their movements on the interactive floor influence the evolution of the pixelized cellular automata beneath them. The phrase “we met online” is an increasingly common statement on the initial interaction for contemporary human relationships.

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Exhibited:
“Fifth World Problems” pop-up exhibition during Frieze NY at Studio 525 (former space of Andrea Rosen Gallery) in Chelsea NYC, 2019

Special Thanks:
Studio 525
WorldStage Inc
Shalimar Alpacas
Jane Lombard Gallery
Saadia Zahid
Elisabeth Johs
Rami Farook
Josh Goldberg
Aaron Parach
Matthew Schreiber
Shelly Sabel
Peter Smith
Matt Ward
Praise Shadows Art Partners

NOTE: Both owners and handlers of the alpacas were present at all times to ensure they were taken care of. The alpacas are registered show alpacas comfortable with crowds and being petted. They ignored the display below them because it didn't smell like anything interesting, and the pen was nearly twice the size of the standard pen they're normally kept in. For the most part, they did what they normally do in a pen, walk around, eat, and poop. Visitors to the installation could see this was fun for women, men, children, and animals alike. 🦙❤️