Wire Tap by Dianne Bowen and Heins Kim- October 2008

“Wire Tap”, a site-specific installation and selected works

by New York based artists, Dianne Bowen and Heins Kim.

Excerpt from the original press release;

“Wire Tap” examines the lines of communication and infinite conversations through which information bounces faster than the speed of light within a border less global community. The work explores the process of this conversation decoding, translating what and how we listen to these audible and inaudible sounds. Information is concealed or revealed by discretion mending and repairing itself disguised as stealth.  An envelopment of wires as metaphor to close or create connection to multiple and diverse dialogue between existing decay and the fabricated Utopia that attempts to coexist.

Creating the work to encompass the entire 200 square foot area, the central web connected to the original decaying wiring and walls and ascended two stories upward on the fire escape.

Covering the walls in cotton duck canvas, in a skin like reference it was cut and sewn as if a surgical wound in varied states of healing. Hidden beneath, the original decaying walls, wires and a barred bricked up window; phone wires are delicately pulled apart and pinned back together. Salaciously crawling along the walls they peep out from the incisions and seams behind the stretched canvas. The process alludes to ease dropping a covert action to obtain information. Multi color phone and data wires wind through a grid made from alternating black and red thin phone wires that become the central web . Sections of wire are burned and spliced exposing the copper cores. Used guitar wires wrap, dangle and connect wire to wire. Pristine green astro turf covers the floor, a man made fantasy of growth. Found cassette tape threaded through wires lightly moves as you pass. A conversation no longer available discarded and unwanted.

The hand woven central web holds the work together; each line connected every other in the piece. A series of downloaded conversations and sounds are heard from 3 points in the work through mini speakers connected to hidden ipods. These mini speakers dangle in the air at a heights just low enough to make the viewer bend in to hear. The sound level is barely audible until you put the speaker to your ear. The Central web holds one speaker embedded in its center.

The recordings are seals defending their territory, whales, and a prank call from a comedian telling a women she will not be getting her social security check. The intricate patterns of wires with live sound flowing through them give life to the work. It literally speaks to the viewer privately through these devices as the public at large can barely hear.

On first glance the work is almost invisible. Closer examination reveals highly detailed and complicated spaces and lines of connection throughout the space-canopied overhead. Light ropes behind the work begin to show through as day turns to night. Evolving over the course of each day, cast shadows offering another layer of hidden lines. Weather conditions begin to age the canvas and rust exposed wires, the ipods are disconnected, and the viewer once active participant is now witness to its process of death.

In a world on information overload and constant virtual connection with little or no barrier what and how we hear becomes one of the most important questions in our time.

“Can You Hear Me? I am here”

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Dianne Bowen is a multi-media artist living and working in the East Village, NY for over 18 years. She studied at the School of Visual Arts, NY, independent research in Estonia, Ireland, Finland and the United States for her photographic series “Human Land Urban Landscape” 2000-2004 and completed a residency at Byrdcliffe in Woodstock, NY in 2008. Her work is shown both nationally and internationally as well as reviewed in publications in print, on-line, live radio interview and a documentary on 10 artists in their studio “Art in Dialogue” screened at the Museum for New Art Parnu, Estonia in 2006. Bowen’s work was also featured in Art in America, June/July 2007 “Girls, girls, girls” by Carey Lovelace pg. 90. and ARTslant NY 2010, “On the Edge at Fountain” by Natalie Hegert Pic of the month for March. A book on her work “Back to the Beginning And Begin Again..” with foward by Peter Duhon Jr. was just released September 30, 2010. In the spring of 2017, unfortunately the world lost Dianne Bowen. Di battled Cancer for several years.Like the true Warrior she was. Continuing making her Art till her last day. She was a true Artist that inspiration would beam with her smile. The Art World lost a amazing Artist that day…

For more information on Dianne Bowen’s work: Dianne Bowen

Heins Kim was born and raised in Southern California to Korean-immigrant parents from Germany. He works in painting, sculpture, and installation.  Kim has shown and has curated shows in Los Angeles and New York, and included in a group show at The Pelham Art Center in Pelham, New York in which his work was published by “The New York Times”