Der Schachtürke

(1) Machines that put operations into execution independently, (2) Robots that rebel against their builder, (3) Automats that have a higher level of intelligence than their creators and love and protect them, (4) Comparisons or identifications of humans with a machine that imply a loss of freedom.

„Schon die Verbindung des Menschen mit toten das Menschliche in Bildung und Bewegung nachäffenden Figuren zu gleichem Tun und Treiben hat für mich etwas Drückendes, Unheimliches, ja Entsetzliches. Ich kann mir es denken, daß es möglich sein müßte, Figuren vermöge eines im Innern verborgenen Getriebes gar künstlich und behende tanzen zu lassen, auch müßten diese mit Menschen gemeinschaftlich einen Tanz aufführen und sich in allerlei Touren wenden und drehen, so daß der lebendige Tänzer die tote hölzerne Tänzerin faßte und sich mit ihr schwenkte, würdest du den Anblick ohne inneres Grauen eine Minute lang ertragen? Aber vollends die Maschinenmusik ist für mich etwas Heilloses und Greuliches, […] und [so] wird der geist- und empfindungsloseste Spieler noch immer mehr leisten als die vollkommenste Maschine, da es nicht denkbar ist, daß nicht irgend einmal eine augenblickliche Anregung aus dem Innern auf sein Spiel wirken sollte, welches natürlicherweise bei der Maschine nie der Fall sein kann.“

(quote from: E.T.A. Hoffmann,
„die Automate“)

At the end of the 18th century, Wolfgang von Kempelen caused quite a stir by constructing what appeared to be an Automaton Chess Player: Der Schachtürke
(The Turk)

In fact, though, the Turk was by no means a robot, the apparatus was rather operated by a person sitting inside of the construction.

SEBASTIAN TRÖGER
BENJAMIN ZUBER

November 2013
das weisse haus, Wien

Dokumentation der
Performance und Installation

Through a dimly lit car repair room with a covered inspection pit in it, a stairway leads down to into an adjacent vaulted cellar.

Down there, a faint cone of light originating from the only source of illumination shines on a sarcophagus-like object in the middle of the room. Humming techno beats in a hard and fast rhythm boom out of the object – in high volume and intensified even more because of the room acoustics of the barrel vault.

Little evidence hints at the fact that the music is not recorded but being played live.

Recurring radio samples, for instance, reveal that up-to-date radio transmissions serve as raw material for the sound. Furthermore, the course of the wires can be traced from the vault to the inspection pit. In fact, throughout the whole performance, the music is being played live from the inspection pit, in which a rudimental light control can be found, too.

Any interaction with the outside world is impossible, though. From inside the pit, what is happing in the vault at the same time cannot be seen. Are there any visitors at all? Are they possibly even dancing? Or are they rather devoutly pacing around the sarcophagus like you pace around a work of art in an exhibition?

Note: Each audio track belongs to a separate channel: The barrel vault is on the left, the inspection pit on the right channel. Use your balance controller to switch channels!

english version

(1) Machines that put operations into execution independently, (2) Robots that rebel against their builder, (3) Automats that have a higher level of intelligence than their creators and love and protect them, (4) Comparisons or identifications of humans with a machine that imply a loss of freedom.