a study in cyberdelia
originally posted: 2023
Advertisement for Psy-Vision(1996) by Troy Innocent and artists on the Australian psychedelic electronic music label Psy-Harmonics -- a VHS of music videos, it seems, described as "a computer animated experience." In other words, peak cyberdelia. More info here:
"Inspired by the sounds and structures of techno music, the Psy-Vision project represents a set of prototypical language elements for the visual expression of this new sound. Elements of this language include textures, spaces, icons, movements, colors, and animated figures which are extruded into the abstract three-dimensional space of the computer. This video experiments with electronic communication and digital semiotics, exploring the increasingly significant relationships that humans have with virtual spaces and virtual images. These evolving relationships shape and reflect human identity." - Troy Innocent, June 5, 1996
Needless to say, all of the "good record stores" where this 50-minute video was available have probably been run out of business by now, but most of the individual videos are available on YouTube by searching Psy-Harmonics/Psy-Vision.
Bonus: The artist's 1990 "Cyber-Dada Manifesto" video with Dale Nason, exhibited at SIGGRAPH, which -- regardless of however many layers of irony meant to swath it at the time -- now just comes off so damn earnest.
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