'Payphones' by Dirk Westphal Documents Obsolete Technology
Sarah Moore — June 16, 2012 — Art & Design
References: dirkwestphal & maison24
The newest addition to the Maison 24 gallery is the photo series 'Payphones' by Dirk Westphal, which showcases a collection of roughed-up phone booths.
Each snapshot in the series offers a glimpse into the scarce number of public telephones that can still be found in certain locations in the city -- despite being so covered in graffiti that they are barely visible for what they are anymore.
The artist took a number of snapshots of these garbage-covered, publicly defaced relics in the early 90s and recently compiled them all into one collection for public display.
Each image exudes a sense of nostalgia for the days when making a call only cost a quarter while also acting as a reminder of how fast technology is advancing and how fast something that was once viable can become obsolete.
Each snapshot in the series offers a glimpse into the scarce number of public telephones that can still be found in certain locations in the city -- despite being so covered in graffiti that they are barely visible for what they are anymore.
The artist took a number of snapshots of these garbage-covered, publicly defaced relics in the early 90s and recently compiled them all into one collection for public display.
Each image exudes a sense of nostalgia for the days when making a call only cost a quarter while also acting as a reminder of how fast technology is advancing and how fast something that was once viable can become obsolete.
Trend Themes
1. Obsolete Technology - Opportunity for disruption by developing innovative solutions that replace outdated technology.
2. Retro-nostalgia - Disruptive innovation potential in creating products or experiences that evoke nostalgia for obsolete technology.
3. Advancing Technology - Opportunity to create cutting-edge innovations that surpass and replace outdated technology.
Industry Implications
1. Telecommunications - Potential for disruptive innovation in developing new communication solutions and services to replace outdated devices.
2. Art and Photography - Disruptive innovation opportunities in leveraging obsolete technology as a subject matter for artistic expression.
3. Urban Design - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in redesigning public spaces and urban infrastructure to include modern forms of communication and eliminate the need for payphones.
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