Super Powers, Day 1 – 3, The Chamber

This work involves my ongoing interest in the power and fallibility of memory. When I was a kid, like most other kids, I believed I could fly, hold my breath for a long time, run fast, and have a multitude of other superpower abilities. I believe these things were real, but as we grow into adults we suppress these abilities to fit in with society.

Since superpowers, as reported in comic books and movies, tend to be somewhat magnetic, I thought that maybe these powers were stored on old VHS tapes since they use magnetic tape to store images.

I built a condensing chamber, lined on the inside with a reflective aluminum sheet and on the outside with a protective barrier of foam. I called my dad and asked him to mail me any old videotapes from my childhood. I ended up with three tapes, which I did not watch before “experiencing” them through the chamber. 3 satellite dishes were connected to 3 VCRs. The VCRs were set so that while one was being automatically rewound, the other 2 videos would continue to play. The satellite dishes were attached to the VCRs through a coax cable and pointed directly at the chamber beaming the magnetic radiation directly into me. This experience was documented over 48.

I spent an entire 3 days in the chamber, taking with me all the essentials, such as food, water, and toiletries. After 3 days I emerged and had an uneventful drive home.