binary permissives

(Feb 05) Digital video (3:21 mins)

This film documents the creation of the first geometric drawing and acts as an explanation for how the drawings relate to the binary patterns. A piece of hand-cut cardboard with three holes (square, circular and triangular) is moved to and fro over a point on a sheet of paper. With each move, a different colour pencil (red, blue or yellow) is systematically selected. The sequences of shape and colour are such that the recurrence of the same combination is rare.  

The chosen pencil hovers over the chosen shape-stencil awaiting 'permission' to draw. Permission depends upon the binary pattern of 1's (yes) and 0's (no). Each move in the film relates to a column in the pattern and where there are only 1's, the pencil is permitted to draw through the stencil. If there are any 0's at all in the given column, the pencil's action is blocked and the move is frustrated.

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