"The work starts with pure chance or contingency (the user is the agency which chooses between the numbers 1 or 2). The user is a gambler. The numbers 1 or 2 are connectors that link up with different images, texts and interactions derived from the video, film and theoretical work of Grzinic & Smid (in the period between 1982 and 1997), and now classified on four levels of values ranging from -- to -+, and from +- to ++. The images and interactions express function and redundancy on the one hand, and meaning, nonsense, chance, destiny and void on the other hand. It is not possible to travel through the four structures without changing them in accordance with our particular history, intimacy, prejudices and stereotypes. Unlike most CD-ROM structures, after choosing between 1 and 2 the user cannot change the path of events by leaping backwards and forwards. The user either proceeds up to the end, or else has to quit." (Marina Grzinic)
"The work of Grzinic&Smid conquers the pervasive cultural images it cites, and gives us an alternative, one which brings us into a personal, provocative relationship with both history and art." (Kathy Rae Huffman)
Marina Grzinic & Aina Smid
Marina Grzinic was born in 1958. She gained a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the Faculty of Philosophy and works as researcher at the Scientific and Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Art, Ljubljana. She is also active as an independent media theorist, art critic and curator. Aina Smid was born in 1957. She is an art historian (Faculty of Philosophy, Ljubljana) and works as a contributing editor to an art and design magazine. Marina Grzinic & Aina Smid have been involved in video art since 1982. Since that time, they have collaborated in more than 30 video art projects and exhibited their video works and video installations in more than 100 video festivals all over the world.