(Or Methodic Diminishing of Available Energy for Useful
Work in a Closed System Subject to Entropic Disorder)
The Concept
“Life is like an infant we must rock until he rests in sleep”. This noted quotation from French philosopher Francois Marie Arouet (Voltaire) signals man’s longtime obsession with Time. The challenge to stop Time, curb Time, extend Time, modify Time in some way or another has always been there. That explains why it is one of the three indefinables in Mechanics. The scientific search for eternity is constant. We fear of arriving at the maximum level of disorder, the point where we cannot control our environment and thus lose control over our own existence. All natural processes guide our Universe back to the Beginning, to Chaos. Physical and all material life will eventually get back to its chaotic initial state.
The word we use to describe this grade of disorder in Universe is entropy. Entropy is the measure of disorder. When the Universe returns to its total disordered state and entropy gets its full meaning, energy may not be available because its availability depends upon an interaction of ordained systems. In such circumstances we are able to visualize the second law of thermodynamics. It predicts the so-called thermal death of the Universe. This will happen even when there will be the same energy there was in the Beginning. But then, as the use of energy depends upon the existence of ordained systems, energy shall not be used
and, so, work shall not be done. Thus, life will be impossible. Here, I see, Physics ends and Metaphysics starts. Only a being, an external ordainer may reorganize its components to start a new cycle of life in the Universe.
With the urge to freeze Time and stop our Universe’s march to chaos, I have designed a frozen capsule for an electronic being. It has feelings, memory, and it shows its virtual pain. Of course, this entity may only live while its system participates of some kind or order, ice being its principal element. At the same time, due to the natural melting process, the entropy of this system increases its disorder; my thermo-electronic entity will slowly cease its life. This will demonstrate that there is no way to stop virtual or physical Time, this indefinable of Mechanics that guides everything towards chaos, as expressed in the second law of Thermodynamics.
Project Description
The sculptural installation I am planning to construct will last a limited life period of approximately one week.
The sculpture will feature ice cubes of irregular dimensions placed one on top of the other to create a wall. Each ice block will encase various electronic components, which will be connected to one another and functioning. The electrical connections will be outside the cubes, so that moisture will not affect them.
While ice does not melt at the same rhythm in every block, some parts of this sculpture will collapse at different times. There will be different types of CRT monitors and LCD’s among the electronic components to be frozen. Due to their limited life endurance these parts will manifest their own decay.
Besides being connected to each other, these monitors will be also connected to surveillance cameras which will record the (de)evolution of the installation piece. Some of these cameras will be programmed so as to send the information to the monitors in a time-lapse period of about 10 to 12 seconds allowing the viewer to witness my thermo-electronic being from its birth through its degradation, shown in the last monitor alive. There will also be a camera, which will record the final moments of the piece from the inside.
This installation piece is planned to be exhibited in an open space. There will be no need of a connection to a conventional electric outlet. The whole sculpture will work with four auto batteries. These will also be placed inside ice blocks
In addition to the elements, the heat emitted by the electronic components will cause the destruction of the installation piece. This artificially created electronic being, preserved through a natural element like ice, will drive itself towards disorder or chaos, like most natural processes. This particular process may not be detained that is, unless it receives an external lift.
After a few days there will only remain the representation of life.
Or may we call it a thermal death?
