Paul B. Davis (b. 1977 St Louis, USA) lives and works in London. He utilises outdated or obsolete computer technologies, including most notably Nintendo games systems, in order to perform specialist interventions into the territory of the digital art medium. While the materials utilised are ready-made, the use principle is entirely hand crafted; Davis altering the existing code while adding nothing new. This idea, the implemented projection of an alternative potential onto a ready-made object, exactly and succinctly captures the structured abridgement – between computers and art, between theory and praxis, ongoing in Davis’ practice. 

Davis has exhibited internationally at the Akademie Der Kunste, Whitechapel Gallery, Printed Matter, Witte de With Centre, HMKV, Tate Britain, Team Gallery, LABoral Centro de Arte, the Rotterdam International Film Festival, and ARD Television Germany.

Paul’s work is in the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum and the Rhizome ArtBase. Recently completed a PhD at Central St. Martins titled “Turing-completeness as Medium: Art, Computers and Intentionality” and is a lecturer in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College.

 

Biography

Paul B Davis CV

Seventeen Exhibitions

In winter; mute
Define your terms (or Kanye West Fucked Up My Show)
Intentional Computing
Miller Urey Bong

Paul B. Davis, Assemblage 93, 2022
Computer simulation, single board computer, LCD screen, fireplace, texts
133 x 121 x 17 cm

Paul B. Davis, Codec, 2009
Proprietary compression algorithm, single channel video with sound
6 minutes 33 seconds

Paul B. Davis, Compression Study, 2007
Single channel video with sound
2 minutes 49 seconds

Paul B. Davis & AIDS 3D, Miller Urey Bong, 2010
Class 4 laser, glass, steel, plastic, water, protective eyeware

More works and information >>> 

Paul B Davis and Jacob Ciocci, Untitled Data Mash-Up, 2007
Single channel video with sound
2 minutes 49 seconds

Paul B. Davis, Critical Space Headgear, 2009
Collaboration with Liam Fogerty
CCD camera, video processing and overlay module, video goggles,
mini-DVR, headband

Paul B. Davis, Video Compression Study II, Untitled Data Mash Up, 2007 (Installation shot)
Digital video projection

Paul B. Davis, Video Compression Study I, Untitled Data Mash Up, 2007 (Installation shot)
Digital video projection

Paul B. Davis, Five in One, Fantasy Cutscenes, 2007 (Screen shot)
Hacked NES cartridge

Paul B. Davis, Failed Aesthetics 1-4, 2009
Oil on canvas
12 x 30 x 8 inches

Paul B. Davis, Five in One, Fantasy Cutscenes, 2007 (Screen shot)
Hacked NES cartridge

Cover image from ‘8-bit construction set’ LP

Paul B. Davis, Super Abstract, 2000
Hacked video cartridge, Nintendo console

Paul B. Davis, B.Y.O.B.B.(Bring your own Bobby Brown), 2008
Single channel video, 2m 15s

Paul B. Davis, exhibition at The MINI Museum of xxi Century Arts, 2010 (installation view)

Paul B. Davis, Intentional Computing, 2007
Single channel video, 3m 20s

Paul B. Davis, Intentional Computing, 2007
Single channel video, 3m 20s

Paul B. Davis, N.O.S. (No Operating System), 2008
Laptop, custom bootloader code