| If profound intractable problems exist in society, it follows that the professions needed to fix them have not yet been invented. Ian Wojtowicz (he/him) is a writer who builds stuff. His work applies techniques of connection, dissensus, modifiability, playfulness, editing, argument, dialogue, and repair. He has shown work in Hong Kong, Europe and throughout North America, and has published work in Wired Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, and on PBS and Discovery channels. Professionally, Wojtowicz has consulted for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the US National Coast Guard Museum, the Redwoods National and State Parks, and indigenous cultural projects at Nk'Mip and Wanuskewin. Wojtowicz holds a degree in Art, Culture and Technology from MIT’s School of Architecture and is the editor of a collected volume from MIT Press entitled Interrogative Design, on artist Krzysztof Wodiczko's influential design philosophy. He currently lives and works in Vancouver, Canada, on the territories of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh people. |
The Betweeners
This large-format photomontage depicts six of the most diversely connected people in Montreal. Informed by the relatively new field of network theory, this photo is the result of custom software that scoured the MySpace network for three months. It identified a small group of obscure but broadly-connected Montrealers -- the independent friends of popular people -- an elite who, taken cumulatively, have a close communication link with the entire city.
Instead of highlighting the most visible people, this project sought out catalytic individuals with strong viral potential who help bridge disparate parts of the city.
While the 20th century could be characterized by the science and metaphors of the bell curve, the early 21st century seems to be giving way to systems and symbols governed by networks and “Power Laws” (the measurable tendency for connected systems to reinforce popularity, also known as the “rich get-richer” phenomenon). This trend also seems to be responsible for the myth that the planet is more connected than ever before, when, in fact, it is producing ever-stronger echo chambers. The 21st century may well be defined by how well or how poorly we approach these problems.
Exhibitions
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Texts
Felicity Taylor wrote two texts about this work:
See also A Notable New Yorker.