Wanderer Spacetime Poetry at UnReal - The Algorithmic Present at Chronus Art Center Shanghai Foto © Kerstin Ergenzinger

Wanderer Spacetime Poetry at UnReal - The Algorithmic Present at Chronus Art Center Shanghai Foto © Kerstin Ergenzinger

Wanderer Spacetime Poetry Footprint Detail Basel Foto © Kerstin Ergenzinger

Wanderer Spacetime Poetry at UnReal - The Algorithmic Present at House of Electronic Arts Basel Foto © Gina Folly

Wanderer Spacetime Poetry at UnReal - The Algorithmic Present at House of Electronic Arts Basel Foto © Gina Folly

Wanderer Spacetime Poetry at UnReal - The Algorithmic Present at Chronus Art Center Shanghai Foto © Kerstin Ergenzinger

Timekeeper Footprint Detail Basel Foto © Kerstin Ergenzinger

Timekeeper Footprint Detail Basel Foto © Kerstin Ergenzinger

Wanderer Spacetime Poetry

Wanderer Spacetime Poetry is a continuously evolving installation series. Wanderers are small modified and individually programmed thermal printers that roam along paper strips that are stretched in different constellations across a space. On their journeys the Wanderers leave traces behind, a line, a dot or words. Like a snail with its trail the units dynamically create a poetic drawing over the course of an exhibition – e.g. a period of 2-3 month.




Opposing the manufacturing diktat of maximized performance, they are devoted to slowness. They translate the passage of time into movements in space. They configure a netting of branded marks, that themselves result in temporal archival roles of interconnected reflections and remains of accidental events – because exposed to light and touch, these prints are gradually fading.

The little automata interact with the texture of time as such. Counting, heat-printing and changing frequencies/speeds, they stress and compress moments. Embodying continuous change they perform the passage of time. The Wanderers rely on their internal clocks and two orientation methods: counting steps and calibrating when sensing black.

Both the pre-defined controls specifications of the machines and the controlling algorithms – developed in relation with the changing spatial constellations – together with the individual mechanics result in the possibilities and constraints that define the Wanderers behavior.

The seven Wanderers are ascending and descending slopes that are stretched between two fixed floating aluminum swings. Each printer shares a slow mean pace but randomly changes it. The Wanderes perform a gravitational experiment, while the slowly shifting weights create a continuously changing formation. The vectors of their printed traces follow these physical principles: The continuous lengthening and shortening of the paper strips with the falling and rising inclinations are superimposed in time. Each printer continues the trail of the previous one.

According to a set of rules based on probabilities the machines pick ‘their’ stream of consciousness from an electronic library, a partition written by Daniel Canty. The automata partition reflects both on the essence of time and connects to the different constellations and technical specifications of the machines. The writing changes with the particular location where the poetry is performed.

Close to the seven Wanderers a lonely Timekeeper moves at constant speed on top of a horizontally stretched paper stripe. The Timekeeper records and measures the duration of an exhibition on a four meter long paper strip. It divides the given time-distances with different vertical lines and creates a ruler-like time map. The Timekeeper moves at a constant speed, and its objective is to set its marks with utmost precision. Doing so, it manifests the system´s limits and its own idiosyncratic take on them.

Collaboration Drawing Installation Work / since 2017 (ongoing)

custom-prepared thermal printers, custom-made electronics, thermal paper, aluminum, strings

collective work with Thom Laepple

in collaboration with Daniel Canty

The development of “Wanderer Spacetime Poetry” is enriched by the exchange with the scientist from nuClock, a project conducting fundamental research to develop a hyper-precise nuclear clock: namely by Simon Stellmer, Thorsten Schumm and Lars von der Wense.

The initial collaboration with Daniel Canty was financially supported by the nuClock, that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 664732.”project.

The explorations of the hidden sonic and rhythmic layers of the installation and the concerts “Listening to Spacetime Poetry” are part of my research project “Rhythmic Textures” 2016-2018, funded by Einstein Foundation Berlin and realized with the support of the Graduate School at the Berlin University of the Arts.