PXL 2020

PXL is a work in progress research project that explores the obsolete ‘Pixelvision PXL-2000’ camcorder, originally released in 1987 by Fisher-Price. This video camera is particularly of interest due to it’s unique ability to encode a video signal onto audio cassette tapes, and forms part of our ongoing investigation into obsolete media and technologies.

Year
2017- Present
Role
Research and Development
Client
Signal to Noise
Keywords
Media Archaeology

The conversion between audio and visual signals taking place within this device is central to this enquiry, with sonic inputs used to manipulate the technology, generating fragmented imagery through the 10800 pixels available in the PXL’s video matrix. Here, images become an issue of gesture, with the spectator an editor who explores and composes the artwork through the interface.