Nathan Gates an Masters Candidate in the 2012 Masters in Digital Arts: Interactive Media opened Fingers in the Outlet at Room Gallery in Braamfontien on the 29th January. The Exhibition of work is a 50% part of his thesis research project titled A self-‐reflexive investigation of ‘Bricolage’ as method of engagement in new media arts, through domestic hacking practices.
The works on exhibition are experimentation in hacking with process of Bricolage and hacking practices as it’s primary methodology.
Gates states:
The exhibition consists of a series of ‘domestic investigations’ into the concept of Bricolage. It is a hands-on, exploratory practice that is performed within a domestic setting and through the objects and materials characteristic of this space. The primary intent of exploring this concept is to acquire a physical and conceptual understanding of these objects as mechanisms of expression. The title of the show, Fingers In The Outlet, is an allusion to the curiosity and inquisitiveness that is carried out with whatever is on hand. It refers to an interruption of flow or the creation of a space through intervention, linking up to the character of experimentation that enables this process.
Fingers In The Outlet presents a collection of sculptural elements ranging from scrap wood to consumer electronics, which in turn have been extended spatially. The works touch on installation with the inclusion of some interactive elements and video. The varied works are intended to form a heterogeneous repertoire of experiments, reflections or musings physically carried out through the materials.










