Marius Watz: Drawing Machine 13.net

Introduction to Drawing Machine 13.net

In the winter of 2003, Marius Watz unveiled Drawing Machine 13.net, a pioneering digital art project that demonstrated the ingenuity and interactivity of network-based art installations. Hosted by the Splintermind studio in Stockholm as a part of Watz’s artist-in-residence program, this project was sponsored by the NIFCA New Media AiR programme and broadcasted live from 19 December 2003 to 18 January 2004.

The Project's Mechanisms and User Engagement

Conceived as the conceptual successor to Watz's earlier Drawing Machine series, Drawing Machine 13.net was developed as a multi-user platform. Implemented in Java utilizing the Processing framework, it allowed online users to connect through a Java applet to a central server. Once connected, users could collaboratively influence the drawing machine's ongoing creative process.

This interaction among users was visualized on the digital canvas through the movement of small cross shapes, signifying their presence and participation. The cross shapes added an element of communal presence to the artwork, allowing users to observe the ebb and flow of collective creativity.

Broader Impact and Distribution via NonTVTVstation

The innovative aspects of Drawing Machine 13.net were amplified by its partnership with nonTVTVstation, which broadcasted the dynamic drawings to multiple venues in Scandinavia. The ongoing artwork was displayed on large projections or screens, inviting a broad audience to engage with the ever-evolving digital canvas, fostering a new dimension of audience participation.

Curatorial Insights from Björn Norberg

In a curatorial remark, Björn Norberg of nonTVTVstation highlighted the significance of Marius Watz's work in the domain of interactive digital art. Norberg's perspectives shed light on the intersections of creativity, code, and collaboration that Drawing Machine 13.net so deftly navigated.

Future Developments and Legacy

Although the project has ceased its run on nonTVTVstation and remains offline, Drawing Machine 13.net marks the first installation in a planned series of network-based drawing machines by Watz. This showcases the artist's continual commitment to expanding the boundaries of digital and network-based art.

Connecting Travel to the Art of Drawing Machine 13.net

The spirit of travel involves exploration, connection, and new experiences, much like the journey users take when engaging with Drawing Machine 13.net. As art often reflects our desire to traverse unknown territories and create shared memories, Watz's project embodies these principles by transporting participants to a collaborative virtual space, hinting at the infinite possibilities that arise when the worlds of art and technology coalesce.