Glitch in time

By Coledale artist Naomi Ullmann

My upcoming exhibition, Glitch at Sydney’s Woollahra Gallery, explores our preoccupation with fate and chance, and our efforts to find patterns and predictable behaviour in random phenomena. Predating the digital era by many years, the beginnings of chaos theory stemmed from observing the flow of water and the seemingly random movement of surface turbulence.

Recent video work arose from my observations of water flow on the Coledale rock platforms. I was captivated by the constantly changing patterns and struck by their visual similarities to corrupted forms of data flow, aka glitches.

A glitch is often maligned as a frustrating disruption beyond our control. However, aesthetically, they can appear as compelling visual forms. My paintings are an attempt to capture these momentary glitches and employ them as a visual metaphor for disruption in our contemporary world.

In December 2010, a boat carrying asylum seekers crashed onto rocks at Christmas Island, tragically killing 48 people. In February 2011, amid public controversy, the first burials were held in Sydney. In that same week, radio station 2GB ran a quiz, with prizes, asking listeners to guess how many asylum seekers would be buried.

My feelings of revulsion triggered the creation of Wheel of Fortune and my subsequent explorations of blurred realities, corrupted information, social division, and displaced peoples.

Wheel of Fortune contains 20 oil paintings radiating out in segments on a wooden spinning wheel. Once the viewer has spun the wheel, coming to rest on any segment will trigger a unique sequence of flashing lights and a soundscape created to accompany that painting. The viewer will be invited to try and hit the Jackpot!

Glitch: 3-28 May, Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay, www.naomiullmann.com or @naomiullmann