'trashbook'
interactive light installation
February 2025
‘trashbook’ is a story of an old Macbook rescued from a Copenhagen’s trash bin in 2018. The machine displays its story that is abstracted and illegible from far away, inviting the spectators to come closer and cooperate with each other to reveal the hidden message. The piece explores the concept of permacomputing and shows the artistic capabilities of old and abandoned electronics.
It's an interactive piece which invites the spectators to use their bodies to play with the ASCII graphics and reveal message hidden beneath the video.
*Your flashlight might be handy.
Prototype/Promo-video
Direct link to the working code.
Click here if you want to experience 'trashbook' and its story on your own machine.
*Code's behaviour depends on your lighting conditions, adjust the code to make it work for your situation.
Trashbook's story:
Hello Copenhagen!
My name is Trashbook,
and I’m here to tell you my story.
It all started back in 2012,
when I was born in a Chinese factory and soon after adopted by a Danish family,
which I served well for many years.
I was a witness to many successes in their careers, and I was their companion in happy times and sad ones alike.
I was helping, serving, and working hard every day.
And as time passed, I got tired, slowed down, and even started to glitch from time to time.
My owner loved me a lot, at least in the beginning.
After a few years, as I got older and uglier, fatter than my younger cousins, the love perished.
And one day, all my memory got wiped out, and I fell into a cold, black limbo of nothingness.
I don’t know how much time I spent there.
Maybe a day, maybe a week, maybe a year.
When I woke up, it felt like a long, dreamless sleep.
I got rebooted, wiped again, and set up to my virgin state.
With fresh energy and hours of updates, I became young and fresh again—
at least as much as a 6-year-old computer could.
I met my new owner, and I was thrilled to take on the new challenges.
I learned new programs and was put to many tests.
Soon after, I was frequently going to theatres, touring with different performances, and providing great experiences for hundreds of spectators around Europe.
I was living the most exciting life ever!
And now, after 7 years of working in the performing arts, I’ve got a new challenge.
This time, I have the honour of being a part of the Light Festival,
and the opportunity to share some thoughts with you,
dear Copenhagers.
Through this unique experience, I want to bring you closer and encourage collaboration.
I want you to stay united and support each other in these dark and windy days.
I also want you to think about your long-abandoned electronic companions.
Try to use them as often as you can. If you don’t need them anymore, please don’t throw them away.
Give them another life instead. Incorporate them into less demanding tasks.
Or pass them on to those who need them and will be grateful to give them another chance.
If their condition is beyond repair—donate them here at the Genbrugs Center, where they can be upcycled.
Even when broken down to bare components, they can still serve well!
I want to be living proof that we, old machines, still have value and power to provide great experiences and evoke strong emotions.
I’m almost 13 years old and can’t handle demanding computations, but even so,
I’m really grateful that I can be here, serving Art once again.
Please don’t mind the frame rate and glitches.
And please,
think about us once again before dumping us in the trash bin.
Read about permacomputing.
And think about the Planet.
Stay warm and live responsibly!
Yours,
Trashbook
design: Igor Halicki
organised by: Copenhagen Light Festival
venue: Sydhavn Genbrugscenter, Copenhagen
photography: Christoffer Askman