"Abracadabra" (噼啪啦)
// BLURB //
The earliest record of magic is found in an Egyptian papyrus dated around 2500 BCE. In it we can see a magician performing an animal decapitation trick for the pharaoh. As the story goes, the severed heads are magically replaced, and the magician then proceeds to make prophecies to the king. There is a painting dating back to the 21st century BCE from the tomb wall of Baqet III, depicting two men engaging in what can be interpreted as the first “Cup and Balls” routine. However, this is all conjecture. The first reliably documented magic trick dates to around 50 CE. A group of magicians called “The Acetabularii” performed the cups and balls routine in ancient Rome using stones and small vinegar cups. One can wonder what is it about the illusion or performance that has been enticing humans throughout history? Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca the Younger expresses “it is the very trickery that pleases me. But show me how the trick is done, and I have lost my interest therein.” Humans are curious by nature. Mystifying fantasies, death defying acts, flickering light tricks... it’s all simply part of the fun. Go on give us a clap!
The earliest record of magic is found in an Egyptian papyrus dated around 2500 BCE. In it we can see a magician performing an animal decapitation trick for the pharaoh. As the story goes, the severed heads are magically replaced, and the magician then proceeds to make prophecies to the king. There is a painting dating back to the 21st century BCE from the tomb wall of Baqet III, depicting two men engaging in what can be interpreted as the first “Cup and Balls” routine. However, this is all conjecture. The first reliably documented magic trick dates to around 50 CE. A group of magicians called “The Acetabularii” performed the cups and balls routine in ancient Rome using stones and small vinegar cups. One can wonder what is it about the illusion or performance that has been enticing humans throughout history? Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca the Younger expresses “it is the very trickery that pleases me. But show me how the trick is done, and I have lost my interest therein.” Humans are curious by nature. Mystifying fantasies, death defying acts, flickering light tricks... it’s all simply part of the fun. Go on give us a clap!
EDITION, MEDIA, SIZE & WEIGHT
Unique Edition, Shanghai 2021
RGB LED display, acrylic painting on Plexiglass, Vietnamese linen embedded in hand cast resin, sound sensor, 8-bit microcontroller, teakwood frame
46(W)×65(H)×5.5(D) cm // 10.1 kg
TECH SPECS
• 1×SLC SD Card
• 3×MWLPV20-5 (INPUT 100~240VAC@0.55A / OUTPUT 5V@3A)
• (2+1 spare)×RGB P4-1921-64X32-8S-M3 / SWP4200924MMFF-0412/200
• 1×MWLPV20-12 (INPUT 90~264VAC@0.55A / OUTPUT12V@1.67A)
• Arduino Genuino • DFROBOT Analog Sound Sensor V2 • Seeedstudio Rotary Angle Sensor
CRATE SIZE & WEIGHT
61(W)×81(H)×21(D) cm // 24.5 kg
EXPOSURE
“The Freaky Deaky island6 Circus Show” at island6 Shanghai
CREDITS
Dong Zhe 董哲 (painting) • Yeung Sin Ching 杨倩菁 (production supervisor) • Thomas Charvériat (art direction & animation) • Tiara Alvarado-Leon (blurb)
Unique Edition, Shanghai 2021
RGB LED display, acrylic painting on Plexiglass, Vietnamese linen embedded in hand cast resin, sound sensor, 8-bit microcontroller, teakwood frame
46(W)×65(H)×5.5(D) cm // 10.1 kg
TECH SPECS
• 1×SLC SD Card
• 3×MWLPV20-5 (INPUT 100~240VAC@0.55A / OUTPUT 5V@3A)
• (2+1 spare)×RGB P4-1921-64X32-8S-M3 / SWP4200924MMFF-0412/200
• 1×MWLPV20-12 (INPUT 90~264VAC@0.55A / OUTPUT12V@1.67A)
• Arduino Genuino • DFROBOT Analog Sound Sensor V2 • Seeedstudio Rotary Angle Sensor
CRATE SIZE & WEIGHT
61(W)×81(H)×21(D) cm // 24.5 kg
EXPOSURE
“The Freaky Deaky island6 Circus Show” at island6 Shanghai
CREDITS
Dong Zhe 董哲 (painting) • Yeung Sin Ching 杨倩菁 (production supervisor) • Thomas Charvériat (art direction & animation) • Tiara Alvarado-Leon (blurb)
CLOSE-UPS
BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO
VIDEO