Virtually Maybe (2005)

Pencil on paper. Sizes vary between A5, A4 and A3

Being a largely uncensored source of information, the Internet has the potential to (and does) contain myriad unproven facts. Yet, as the Internet's popularity as an information source steadily grows, the control over fact weakens. When paired with easily accessed computer-based editing programs, the role of visual imagery as proof becomes less and less reliable, and may potentially result in the decay of information at the hands of the fantastic.

Detail of a drawing of a conversation with the alice bot. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of Malevich's black square installation. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a bonsai kitten. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of cymatics. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of two Emoto images of water crystals. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a spam email advertisement. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a spam email advertisement. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a babies hand reaching out of a womb. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a giant squid. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a goatse. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a harlequin foetus. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a humster. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of an invisibility diagram. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of images taken by the mars rover. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a mouse pointer. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of the stratosphere ride. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a time machine advertised on trade me. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of handwritten text taken from a internet hoax. Links to an image of the full drawing Detail of a drawing of a spam email advertising Vlaugra amongst other things. Links to an image of the full drawing

Draw 'n'

23 June-25 July 2006, 110 Devon St, New Plymouth

"Bronwyn Smith's SERIES of pencil drawings Virtually Maybe explores the naive acceptance and cynical skepticism of truth in today's digital culture. The drawings, arranged on the wall not unlike spam windows that pop up unexpectedly on a computer screen, are carefully sketched copies of images derived from suspect Internet sites. Smith's study of the Internet images, carefully depicted to the pixel, suggests a paradox. The irony being that a fresh perspective and questioning of sophisticated computer communication can be obtained via the traditional technique and physical act of cross hatching in pencil. Indeed the simplicity and candidness of the drawings suggests a sincere search or testing of truth among a seductive bombardment of glowing pixels that claim extraordinary realities."
- Bruce E. Phillips, accompanying text for Draw'n'

Image of virtually maybe installed at 110 Devon St, New Plymouth. Links to a larger version of the image Image of virtually maybe installed at 110 Devon St, New Plymouth. Links to a larger version of the image Image of virtually maybe installed at 110 Devon St, New Plymouth. Links to a larger version of the image

Exposure 2005, Massey University Graduate Exhibition

11-19 November 2005, Massey University, Wellington

Read an article about Exposure featuring Virtually Maybe - Massey News, 11 November 2005

Image of virtually maybe installed in the Exposure 2005 Exhibition. Links to a larger version of the image Image of virtually maybe installed in the Exposure 2005 Exhibition. Links to a larger version of the image Image of virtually maybe installed in the Exposure 2005 Exhibition. Links to a larger version of the image Image of virtually maybe installed in the Exposure 2005 Exhibition. Links to a larger version of the image