Video art and NFT

Alan Abrahams grew up in an apartheid South Africa and has been resident in London, Lisbon then Berlin and is currently residing in Paris, France.

He is better known as the much lauded music composer and live performer Portable aka Bodycode, who has graced some of the most important stages and festivals such as Sonar, Mutek, Melt and has been a regular live staple at the world famous Berghain/Panorama bar Berlin, throughout a music career spanning nearly two decades.

He’s digital art has been exhibited at the Venice Biennial 2022,  WEB 3 conference Degamefi 2022 , and at Art Basel 2022

Four of he’s Poetry films has been selected for the Athens digital art festival, Greece and the London Poetry Film festival.

Portable’s self-taught journey into digital art and music composition can best be described as myriad experiences taken from he’s continual search to find and piece together diverse sounds and images. He’s digital artworks revolve around themes of LGBT rights, racial and gender inequality. As part of the LGBT community Portable thought it important to create the digital artworks himself to best compliment he’s own music productions.The artworks are based on 3d scans of places in the physical world, which are imported into the digital environment and reconfigured into ethereal landscapes, forming the backdrop to he’s narratives.

Deja

Part of the official selection of the the Athens digital art festival 2021

Deja, meaning ” again ” , in French is a poem written by Abrahams and uses a pendulum as a metaphor for racist and facist ideologies coming back into our society as a cyclic phenomenon.

The pendulum swings back and forth between periods of progress and regression, with each swing representing a shift in the balance of power and ideas. When progress is made, there is always the risk of regressing back into harmful ideologies. It also highlights the idea that these ideologies are not static, but rather dynamic and ever-changing, adapting to the cultural and political climate of the time. The pendulum metaphor thus serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against racism and fascism and the need to remain vigilant in the face of these persistent social issues.

• 2021
• Video art
  Aspect Ratio 2.39.1
• 4K Digital cinema package

Reification # 1

Reification refers to the process of treating abstract concepts or ideas as if they were concrete, tangible objects. The concept of reification is intimately tied to language and the way we use words to describe the world around us.

In this context, the phrase “the intimate language of a world” suggests that the way we use language is intimately connected to the way we perceive and understand the world. Our perspectives on the world are constantly shifting and evolving over time, as we move from hour to day, from month to year, from decade to millennia.

The idea of infinity is also introduced here, suggesting that our understanding of time and space is ultimately limited by our own perspective. The concept of infinity is tied to relativism, which suggests that there is no objective truth or reality outside of our own subjective experience.

The phrase “cloaked amongst the glimpse of a future past” suggests that our perception of the world is also influenced by our hopes and fears for the future, as well as our memories of the past. The language we use to describe the world is thus intimately connected to our own subjective experience, and is constantly evolving as our perspective shifts over time.

I walk

Part of the official selection of the the Athens digital art festival 2021

The action of walking, a movement towards change, walking away from our troubles into something new, different, fresh, away from the constant flux of societal norms, away from widening gaps in equality, towards a often false promise of the brighter tomorrow.

• 2021
• Video art
• Aspect Ratio 2.39.1
• 4K Digital cinema package

Ancient futures

In this statued form

• 2021
• Video art
• Aspect Ratio 2.39.1
• 4K Digital cinema package

Random statues were filmed around Paris and given an alternative reality via a poetic interpretation by South African poet , Mandy Alexander.Then a musical dimension was added by electronic music composer,Portable aka Bodycode. They address communal relation and our place in society, whether based on class, skin colour or wealth.

Possible Worlds

A language in light

Passing through time, notions of past and future collide, and direction falls back into myth.

The past and future can sometimes blur together, making it difficult to navigate towards a clear direction. As we move forward, the present becomes the past and the future becomes the present, and it can be challenging to discern which direction to take. History and mythology play a significant role in shaping our understanding of the world, and can influence the paths we choose to follow. Ultimately, this highlights the complexity of navigating through time and making sense of our place in the world.

CAPTCHA

CAPTCHA is an acronym for Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart, a security measure designed to prevent automated bots from accessing web services.

The artwork CAPTCHA highlights the fast pace of technological advancement and how it affects artistic practice. As technology becomes more advanced, new challenges arise for artists and designers, forcing them to adapt to new forms of expression and to consider the implications of technological progress on art. For example, the increasing use of digital tools and software has led to the emergence of new forms of digital art.

CAPTCHA challenges us to think about the relationship between humans and machines, and the ways in which technology shapes our interactions with the world around us. It raises questions about the role of art in a world increasingly dominated by technology and the challenges artists face in creating works that engage with and reflect on this new reality. 

Advances in technology also has implications for the way we understand the nature of creativity itself. However, others argue that this kind of creativity is fundamentally different from human creativity, which is driven by emotions, experiences, and personal expression. Thus, CAPTCHA raises questions not only about the relationship between technology and art but also about the nature of creativity and how it is changing in the age of digital media.

FASHION

The fashion industry is notorious for exploiting both human and environmental resources. The industry relies heavily on low-wage labor, often in developing countries with weaker labor laws, and disproportionately affects women and children. Environmental exploitation includes the industry’s overconsumption of natural resources, pollution, and waste. Fast fashion’s quick production and disposal model leads to enormous amounts of waste, exacerbating environmental issues. The fashion industry’s exploitation of resources highlights the need for more sustainable and ethical production methods, and us as consumers can play a role by choosing sustainable fashion options and reducing our overall consumption.

Flow

Flow uses the plant life seen through the lens of technology, drawing upon the relationship between personal growth and pain and how essential it is as part of our human experience

Viewing plant life through the lens of technology allows us to see the intricacies and complexities of growth and development. Just like plants, humans also experience personal growth and pain as an essential part of our human experience. Without pain, we may not appreciate the moments of joy and growth that life offers. It is through our struggles that we learn and develop resilience, which helps us to navigate future challenges. This perspective on plant life also highlights the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of respecting and caring for the natural world. Ultimately, technology can help us to deepen our understanding of the natural world and the lessons it offers us as humans.

Stranded

A partner, companion, soulmate, what are we without one ? …

Having someone to rely on, having a partner, a companion, or soulmate provides us with emotional support, comfort, and a sense of belonging. Without these connections, we may feel lost, incomplete, or unfulfilled. The idea that human beings are social creatures and that relationships with others are integral to our well-being. and ultimately, the the value of human connection and the impact that it has on our lives.

Veins

Veins is a reflection on the interconnectivity of life, where no action exists inside a vacuum 1080x 1080 pix Mp4 original score by Portable

Ripple effect

No action lives alone in a bubble, all have consequences, rippling across our lives ….

Solace

In the offering of solace we surrender to being human …

Walking on doors

A celebration of LGBT culture !

Solace for Ukraine

Commissioned as part of the artists against war for the Venice Biannale 2022, this was projected onto

the Russian Podium during the Venice Bianale in solidarity with Ukraine

Take my heart

It always back to love…

How white are my knuckles

A reflection on the rights of women being systematically rolled back across many countries, including those within the European Union

Pitstop

Love, sex or technology, the cycle of pleasure and pain … 

 video and audio

1024 x 1536 pix Original Score by Portable

Gravitational slingshot

I just need to keep moving forward, putting on foot before the next…

A window to my soul

Try again

Part of the official selection of the the Athens digital art festival 2021
This piece Relies on a haunting soundtrack and hypnotic images, the artist draws upon the merits of trying again, both in terms of our own personal goals but as well as a society at large facing existential threat

• 2021
• Video art
• Aspect Ratio 2.39.1
• 4K Digital cinema package

I offer you a window to my soul

Polyethylene

• 2021
• Video art
  Aspect Ratio 2.39.1
• 4K Digital cinema package

Polyethylene is the most common form of plastic in use today. The same plastic that is becoming akin to a bodybag for our planet