This quote is taken from Douglas Davis’ essay, “The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction,” which argues (in part) that unlike analogue signals, which are like waves crashing upon a beach and losing clarity with every ebb of the tide, digital bits “can be endlessly reproduced, without degradation, always the same, always perfect.”

The Digital Decay series, by Claire Evans, are animations of the process of continuously saving image files in lower quality formats, over hundreds of times. Claire Evans is an unqualified science writer whose work addresses the synchronicities between art, culture, and modern science. Armed with a literature degree and wizened by years in the LA underground noise scene (Thurston Moore once said of her old band, Weirdo/Begeirdo, “Shit, fuck hate–go to The Smell and hang with these abba zabbas–they now ruleth”), Evans has presented her earnestly cosmic Power Point performances at MoMA PS1, The Kitchen in NYC, the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art’s TBA Festival, and the Portland Art Center.

Digital Decay
Digital Decay II
Digital Decay III
Evacuating Myspace Before It Recycles

[via VVORK]