Beyond Quantity
The National AIDS Memorial Competition, San Francisco, CA
FINALIST
2005

Jacob Atherton
Raveevarn Choksombatchai
Michael Eggers
Andrew Shanken

AIDS is a global crisis, the first epic epidemic in the era of mass information. The catastrophe is singular, a slow train-wreck of death, infection, and loss. This ineffable, time-elapsed tragedy defies all previous paradigms of memorialization We propose a new paradigm of memorial to respond to these conditions. Since 1981, when AIDS was discovered and has become part of our awareness, we responded with shock, fear, and awe at the horror of the epidemic. Now, AIDS and HIV appear in our consciousness with an illusion of familiarity. Our consciousness of the epidemic operates like an automaton; we have become numb to the knowledge and unable to comprehend the massive impact of this epidemic to human race. The unperceivable numbers of dead and infected, lest they become mere statistics, must be part of our collective consciousness and conscience. This proposed design intends to experientially jolt and reveal the impact of these massively incomprehensible quantities. Personal names and symbolic gestures – the usual strategies of memorials – fail to express the magnitude of the loss and inadequately rouse consciousness. There is no place to put one’s own worded portrait: the experience is the only “material” one takes away. In short, they do not perform the “memorial work” demanded by AIDS/HIV. As a counter proposal to a traditional memorial, we eschew remembrance of individuals, and of AIDS as an historical event. Instead, this design critiques how we cope with the epidemic globally and as a human race.

THE PROPOSED DESIGN OPERATES AT THREE LEVELS

1. Pixel level at intimate scale

Individual strand and variations
Individual bird
Individual voice of counting
Individual participant

2. Conscious Level

Intellectual
Visceral
Emotional

3. Topological Level

Recognizable complex field of strands
Forms of bird swarm
Loud noise of the swarm of humming birds
Sounds of participants and footsteps
Rhythm of counting

THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF DESIGN

LOCAL: Visual Component

​The field of strands is recognizable. Although specific and quantified, the encounter is abstract. The single strand is both individual and many within the same instance. Each strand is made of red resin and phosphor emitting light at night. The strands are densely and orderly perforated into the surface of existing topography. Each existing portal inscribes new lines of interconnections within the regulated field of strands. At the point where these lines intersect, vectors of turbulent flow are built up causing the disruption while the mind is awakened from the numbness giving weight to consciousness. The tip of each strand filled with sugar water is a hummingbird feeder; a dense flock of hummingbirds form a swarm hovering above the red field. The Manzanitas, Pine and Oak are pixelated in between the strands.

LOCAL: Audio Component

AUDIO 1 Beyond the field, above the horizon, a dense swarm of hummingbirds
creates a violently loud hum.

AUDIO 2 Distributed within the field, at our body height, the voices of hidden
speakers count from 0 to 20,000,000. At the average speed of 20-25 counts
per minutes, it will take at least 2 years to count to 20,000,000. (this takes
in consideration that the higher number, the more time it takes to count) While
the calling of the numbers is intentionally constant, should the AIDS research
be advanced in the distant future and global death tolls dramatically decline,
the number could be called at a much slower pace.
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AUDIO 3 At the ground of the field, hidden sound recorders distributed within
the field capture and web-cast the sounds of visitors’ footsteps.

GLOBAL: Web-Cast Component

The site will be web-cast live globally with visual and audio component. The overlay of the three audio components from the site creates the intensity of incomprehensible white noise. Visitors of the web can choose to turn on or off any of the three audios to distinguish and comprehend each sound component.
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One can make a donation to help support the research by buying a light strand. Each strand is designed as a light fixture in the same form as the strand.

PRESS RELEASE: National Aids Memorial

“5 finalists compete on design for National AIDS Memorial, Golden Gate Park proposals came from 200 in U.S., abroad” 
San Francisco Chronicle. Wednesday, January 19, 2005