Fishy Business

Antennas play a pivotal role in the transmission and reception of signals, acting as conduits for the invisible flow of data through our environment. This ceaseless flow permeates every aspect of our lives, progressing undeterred by physical barriers or considerations of privacy. From urban landscapes to remote wildlands, the reach of these signals is omnipresent, underscoring by satellite networks that subtly encroach upon even the most isolated spaces. This omnipresence forms the basis of an emerging Generation Z conspiracy theory suggesting that birds, once victims of mass extinction, have been covertly replaced by highly sophisticated surveillance drones developed by the Central Intelligence Agency. The theory posits that these "birds" are equipped with a multitude of surveillance devices, including cameras and microphones, effectively redefining them as unassuming spies. These theoretical agents of surveillance manage to incite pleasure rather than paranoia in their unsuspecting audience. For instance, the simple act of a bird munching on a peanut-butter-laden snack brings joy to the unaware grandmother, inadvertently demonstrating the efficacy of its camouflage. Much like antennas, these bird calls symbolize a form of communication that remains elusive to our understanding, consequently sowing seeds of intrigue about their true purpose. Drawing from Sir James Frazer's delineation of magic in The Golden Bough, one may observe a distinct correlation between the principles of the taboo and empathetic magic and the communication techniques in question. Taboo magic, defined by a strategy of camouflage to avoid interaction, is reflected in the deployment of inflatable tanks during warfare. By contrast, empathetic magic, which uses likeness to attract subjects, is symbolized by mimicry of airfield runways to lure cargo planes during World War II. Arguably, these principles form the basis of the "cargo cult science," where researchers seek to validate hypotheses through replication rather than stringent scientific methods, leading to a perception of data of questionable quality as reliable facts. Furthermore, in considering phishing, these tactics of camouflage and mimicry emerge clearly. Phishing websites, for instance, attract unsuspecting victims by skillfully mimicking trustworthy entities like banks. In essence, future global conflicts may rely upon more subtle deceptive tactics that mirror the attributes of familiar entities, such as login pages or e-commerce buttons. In their research, authors Amélie Mckee, Heyse Ip, and Melle Nieling present findings that delve into the intricate interplay of camouflage and attraction in communication. Through their exploration, a unimodal theory begins to emerge: Signal transduction, irrespective of context or place, is as much science as it is magic. * During the exhibition a printer is present that prints a new AI-generated press release every five minutes. The above text was generated and printed on location during the exhibition on 14/10/2023 at 12:30:13 BST. It is press release version #100. Based on an original text by Melle Nieling. Heyse Ip, a multi-disciplinary artist and researcher originally from Hong Kong, holds an MA in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art and a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts in the UK. In 2019, he presented his first solo exhibition, 'Capturing an Image,' at Lumenvisum in Hong Kong. Heyse Ip's work has been exhibited in various countries, including the United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, and the United States of America. He is currently based in both London and Hong Kong. Amélie Mckee, a French British artist, holds an MA in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art and a BA in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Arts. Her work has been exhibited internationally, with showings in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, the United States of America, among others. She is also known for co-founding Plicnik Collective, an experimental curatorial platform. Amélie Mckee is currently based in London. Melle Nieling is a Dutch contemporary artist who studied Painting and New Media at the AKI in the Netherlands before earning an MA in Contemporary Art Practice from the Royal College of Art. Their work has been exhibited internationally in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, and the United States of America. They co-founded Plicnik Collective and currently split their time between London and the Netherlands. Melle Nieling is a dual recipient of the Mondriaan Fonds stipend for emerging artists in 2022 and 2023.