electrolit

wwiii project proposal

Have you ever built your own battery? Have you ever thought that you might need to build your own battery?

My proposal is to use simple technology in an absurdist fashion, in order to make subtle references and statements not only about the climate of war in our culture, but also the “impending” energy crisis and global climate change.

I intend to create a post-apocalyptic installation in which fruit, specifically lemons – massive amounts of lemons, will power simple kitchen appliances and modes of communication; i.e. – a lemon juicer and a small black and white television set.

The juicer and television set will be set up in the fashion of a simple kitchen scenario. There will be a kitchen table with a lacy table cloth on which these items will be set in addition to a pitcher of fresh lemonade and hand-letterpressed coasters and glasses.

The TV will be playing a propaganda/how-to video on a loop. The coasters will have a symbol of a lemon with a knock-out of a lightning bolt on one side, and simplified instructions for creating a lemon battery on the reverse side. They will be available for spectators to take home as a memento. The installation will also be interactive. Viewers will help to juice their own lemons for lemonade.

The idea is to have a hundred or so lemons power the simple act of squeezing a few lemons. Large input, small output.

In the post-war, post-energy crisis etc world, lemon trees will abound. Only lemon trees, which are more climatically forgiving than any other citrus (they thrive in temperatures ranging from 70 to 55 and go into dormancy below 54 degrees), will be able to power our lives.

Through the alkaline force of lemons, I will be able to power my much-needed citrus juicer, so that when I have house guests I will be able to make them fresh-squeezed lemonade – a very important part of entertaining. This act of juicing is a subtle analogy to the way that our society and government deals with the commoditization of our lives and countries. The act of expelling enormous amounts of raw materials to develop a small and underwhelming final product can speak to our concerns regarding the way in which our current administration handles international and “homeland” issues.