Scrape Elegy
Willoh Weiland, Gabby Bush, Monica Lim, Lauren Stellar, Misha Mikho with the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics at the University of Melbourne, Autex Acoustics and Lofetcetera Studios
What skeletons are in your digital closet?
You might have felt cute, but you didn’t delete it later, did you? This is a journey through your own data – starting at a single point. A monument to the digital graveyard you have created. A mourning poem for the late capitalist hell that makes even the worst of us valuable. It’s a sweet little drown in the doom scroll. A private lament for what we give over to the scrape bots - data scraping is a common tool used to collect user information for analysis and to sell on to third parties. But no one here is selling your data, it’s just you and things you’ve put on insta.
Thoughts on your digital past?
Privacy Statement:
This algorithm is designed to scrape the media data from your Instagram account with the information provided by you before entry into the exhibit. The installation cannot access your Instagram without the provision of your handle and your data won't be accessed after this process. The media data collected will be used only for the purpose of providing your personalised soundtrack within the exhibition and will not be used again. No record of your handle will be kept and the data used for the purposes of this exhibit will be deleted from the server at the conclusion of the exhibition.
Willoh Weiland is an artist, writer and curator working to execute impossible ideas. Currently she is a Creative Associate of the MONA FOMA Festival and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Interaction Design Lab.
Gabby Bush is the Centre and Programs Manager at the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics (CAIDE). With a background in International Development, Gabby is interested in the intersection of human experience, policy and technology.
Mi Mikho is a final year law and science student with a huge interest in tech. He has founded two start-ups and is working towards developing experimental learning tools on algorithmic bias for the Melbourne University subject AI, Ethics and the Law.
Monica Lim is a Melbourne based composer interested in cross disciplinary genres and technology / music inventions. She is currently researching Interactive Composition at the University of Melbourne.
Lauren Steller is a Designer based in Hobart. Trained in the field of Architecture, Lauren’s work has a multidisciplinary and cohesive approach to all design projects including architecture, interior, product and graphic design.
Centre for AI and Digital Ethics (CAIDE) is a facility that oversees cross-disciplinary research, teaching and leadership on ethics relating to AI and digital technologies.
Loftetcetera is a Melbourne based design studio fronted by Will Loft, in collaboration with multidisciplinary practitioners and friends. Loft is experienced in architecture, carpentry, shop fit outs, houses and sculptural installations.
Autex Acoustic is a New Zealand owned company that has been in textile manufacturing since 1967. They now make beautiful, high performance interior acoustics for spaces where people come together.
Dr Niels Wouters is a design researcher, working at the intersection of responsible innovation, design and the human experience. He applies architectural design principles to enable ethical technology innovation.
Professor Jeannie Paterson is the Co-Director of the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics and an expert in consumer protection law and new technology law.
Sullivan Patten, Voice Artist. Sullivan is a Melbourne Based DJ, producer and curator with nearly two decades of experience working with some of the most trail-blazing festivals, parties and institutions across Australia and Europe.