Microforge 2013

The original purpose of Microforge was to produce glass pipettes for medical research. I altered it so that the upper portion suggests a “head with microscope eyes”. By attaching a motor to the base, the “head” slowly rotates back and forth 180 degrees, appearing to look for someone. The device stops seeking when it finds a viewer within a three-foot range. The viewer can then look through the eyepieces to see videos on a small built-in monitor. The audio component is always on, but viewers need to interact with a joystick built into the device’s body in order to change videos. Part game, part critique, this work questions and makes visible a multi-faceted spectrum of toxicity issues, some of which include: e-waste, medical waste, water contamination, climate change, alternative energy sources and less toxic paths not taken.

Video Credit: Heidi Phillips