Frontiers of Utopia. Dinnertable /// 1995 /// Interactive Installation
/// Jill Scott

Dinnertable is part of the interactive environment Frontiers of Utopia, a filmic voyage through time centering on the biographies of two women from four generations (1900, 1930, 1960, 1990), who relate their personal views and desires – their utopias. Placed at the center of the space is the “Dinnertable”. Eight women meet together here and can enter into discussion as guided by the users. The story, the navigation of utopia, is designed by the user. As navigator (narrator), the use is part of the utopia.
With her 16mm films copied in video format so as to be used interactively Jill Scott questions the real honoring and contemporary limits of female utopias.

Jill Scott (*1952 in Melbourne) after her studies in film and communication science, the artist taught at the College of Fine Arts at the University of New South Wales, Sydney and, since 1992, at the Hochschule für Kunst Saarbrücken (Academy of Fine Arts & Design). Guest artist at the ZKM | Media Museum from 1994 to 1997. Professorships at the Bauhaus University in Weimar (1998) and at the Fachhochschule Aarau (University of Applied Arts). Presently teaches at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zurich. Her works ranges from performances, films, videos and numerous interactive installations. Most of her works represent self-confident and critical analyses of themes ranging from body, technology, feminism and multiculturalism. www.jillscott.org
www.jillscott.org

Concept and realization: Jill Scott
Project direction for the ZKM | Media Museum: Bernhard Serexhe
Programming: Jens Müller, Kevin McTavish
Interface construction: Martin Häberle
Screen Design: Ralph Pfeifer
Cooperation: The Australian Film Commission, Monitor Information Systems

Photo: Jill Scott

Jill Scott, Frontiers of Utopia. Dinnertable, 1995, interactive Installation, 13” Apple monitor, video monitor, Macintosh Power PC 8100/100 AV, laserdisc player, video/audio on laserdisc, loudspeaker system, table with embedded photo and printer sensorics, modified keyboard, table, chair, variable measurements, ZKM_Collection