Charles Gershom

Pentax 28 Pixel B&W Lofi Camera

Low Fidelity/High Integrity

It has often been said the photographic process of capturing light by transforming chemicals has an integrity that digital images do not. The ever advancing numbers of mega pixels claim to give us a better representation of reality, and ask us to trust an unknown process colour science and AI. We are abstracted from the transformations that take place in the processes of modern cameras.

It would be much like an artist picking up a brush and trusting that the brush alone can produce the image the artist believes is true. Could this work be said to have the integrity of intention of the artist if the artist fundamentally does not have control of the processes that create the image?

Bridge With People Walking Across
Optoma 35 Pixel Lofi Camera

The is is presented that a modern, many megapixel, camera may have a high fidelity, but in removing the understanding of process within, lacks integrity of its representation of reality.

In response to this idea a set of very simple digital cameras using the most very basic of parts have been built. From the design of the hardware to the programming of the software; From a photon of light hitting an individual pixel to the final result, The whole process of image capture can be validated with understanding of the transformations taking place at each step.

The resulting images are very low in fidelity, but high integrity, offering a more truthful representation of reality of the world around me.

Missing Mountain - Data Interpretation

Missing Mountain

Scholars of anthropology have said that on an evolutionary timeline we could be considered an immature creature due to the short time we have existed. As a species we are also known to push the limits of technology, often without fully understanding the processes or implications.

Nam June Paik wrote “Skin has become inadequate in interfacing with reality” and “Technology has become the body's new membrane of existence”. Never has this been more true with the advent of personal computing and the ubiquitous mobile phone.

Every new technology moves the biological human further away from our interface with reality. I believe this abstraction is an ever increasing amount of which could be considered a measure of how far we are into the Anthropocene.

Missing Mountain Show Installation (Video Frame)

The Missing Mountain sifts through the Anthropogenic Deposits of a now aestheticized landscape, once a hive of industrial activity.

Attempting to find a balance to the abstraction of the interface by remaining physically grounded in the landscape and using a simple set of tools, based on older and better understood technology.

The results of the research in collaboration with Monika Oechsler were presented in a public exhibition.

Accretion Entropy Live

Accretion Entropy

accretion
noun growth or increase by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter.

entropy
noun lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.

Accretion Entropy is an intuitive sound performance whose foundation is in the improvisation coalesce into structures from a state of chaos.

Formed around 2018 from a coalescing of ideas while making work for the Oscilloscope experimental audio event; Accretion Entropy consists of Charles Gershom, Dr Ed Wright and Rob Spaull.
http://www.accretionentropy.co.uk/

Fernn Institute@ Tempting Failure

The Fernn Institute

The Fernn Institute is a performance project that uses intuitive sound performance to address ideas of performative state; the mental and physical space we occupy when engaging with the creative process.

It embraces the evolution of ephemeral ideas and transformation over time.

The performative state is a singular moment that you inhabit when performing that is abstracted from time and void of contextual response to the current external stimulus.

The process involves living in the moment allowing us the freedom to act without hesitation and with the absence of intrusion.

Fernn Institute @ Entre Chien Et Loupe

The performative state is a feedback loop of performance/response inside the same moment and action.

The Fernn Institute is home to the process known as Audio Chronology. This is a performative state tool used to create definitive historical records through the capture of audio during Audio Chronology Surveys.

Since forming in 2010, The Fernn Institute have performed, recorded and released over 300 hours of audio material across 100+ audio releases and performances.

It is formed of Charles Gershom and Benjamin Buck.

Synthetic Life Group --> Host/Operator --> Fernn Institute

https://fernn.net/

Reality Boffins

Formed by North Wales Creative Technologists Charles Gershom & Rob Spaull, Reality Boffins is a creative technology partnership building on a bedrock of creative arts using bleeding edge technology and game theory.

Key to our working ethos is delivering projects that would be considered contributing to a better society.

Through our combined interests in the arts and new technologies, we have become specialists in developing custom and unique experiences with a focus on challenging people’s sense of reality using game theory in on multiple platforms.
https://www.realityboffins.com/

Charles Gershom @ Tempting Failure, Bristol

I have always had an uncontrollable desire to break everything apart, figure stuff out and reform stuff. Thankfully over the past three decades the people around me have indulged this habit, and as a result I exist full time as an artist and maker who happens to wield a hammer and soldering iron rather than a paint brush.

My method of learning is based heavily around doing things the wrong way, to learn the right. With this approach I find my "process" leaves a trail of broken equipment and every so often a fully formed idea is made real. I firmly believe a key skill in learning is about getting over the fear of failure and this often destructive process embraces this concept.

Throughout this journey I have taken great joy in sharing knowledge and supporting fellow humans with their own learning journeys. I am an avid supporter of the arts as an educational and well being tool. Working in Schools and communities to share ideas, and teach creative practice as a way of improving all aspects of day to day life.

BA (Hons) Fine Art (First Class)
The University of the West of England, Bristol , June 2013
Foundation Art & Design (Distinction)
Coleg Menai, Bangor, June 2010
Emma Sullivan Award
Combining aesthetic skill with social purpose and awareness of Community, June 2013

Lofi Camera Workshop, Ruthin Craft Center

If you are a human who is interested in learning about or wants support on any of the following....

Soundscape production & performance, VR/AR, Arduino, Unity, Java,C++,C# Development, Audio Coding such as Pure Data, Max/MSP, Electronic Design,CAD,3D Printing, Animation, Animatronics or general creative technology.

I can provide tuition or services to teach, make, fix or install all of the above. Just drop me an email and we can sort something out. I completely understand the under funded nature of art and always try to be flexible to work to the means of the project at hand. I will always prefer to teach you to successfully use a skill yourself for very basic resources. If you do not desire to learn, you can always ask me to do it for an increased amount of resources.

Drop me and email at charles.gershom@gmail.com

2017 - Present - Creative Technologist
Artist, Maker, Game Designer & Founder @ Reality Boffins
Oct 2016 to 2020 - Creative Technology Practitioner
Lead Creative Schools, Arts Council Wales. Various Locations - Currently Ysgol Gogarth
Sept 2017 - Technical Producer
Facilitation Piece for Togetherness. Performance & Film. Monika Oechsler. Chisenhale Dance Studio, London
July 2017 - Technologist & Audio Performer
Vertical Dance Forum, Pontio, Bangor, UK
March 2016 - Sept 2017 - Visualisation Software Developer
NRG Surveys , Llanfairfechan, UK

2013-2016 - Artist/Technologist/Workshop Leader
Glitch/CircuitPHF , Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno
August 2015 - Technical Producer
Public Address - Video Production, Monika Oeschsler, UWE, Bristol
2013 - Technologist & Curator
Spike Open, The Boiler Room, Spike Island, Bristol
May 2012 - Technologist
Harriet Bowman/Field Song, Audio Installation, Bristol
March 2002 - Sept 2010 - Developer
Freelance Technologist, UK

June 2022 - Present, Lofi/HiFi :Carneddau
Ongoing Research Project
June 2022 Accretion Entropy @ Plas Bodfa
Sound Performance & Research
June 2019 Accretion Entropy @ EisteddFod
Performance
June 2018, Missing Mountain
Installation & Video Exhibition, F Block Gallery, Bristol
March 2018 Accretion Entropy
Audio Performance/Broadcast, Neaudd Ogwen, Broadcast for ‘Exposure’ on BBC Radio 3
September 2017 Audio Chronologists
48 Hour Audio Performance, Llawn05 Festival, Llandudno
July 2017 Live Audio to Choreography
Vertical Dance Forum, Pontio, Bangor, UK
June 2017 Capacitor Mathematics
Interactive Electronic Sculpture, Wagstaff, Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno, UK
September 2016 Glitch VR Lab
Interactive Virtual Reality Space, Glitch Festival@Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno
November 2015 Homo_sapiens.GRCh37
Computer Animation, Created for Public Address by Monika Oeschlser, Cube Cinema, Bristol
September 2015 Sonic Wave Lab
Offshore wind farm
Interactive Audio Installation@Llawn Festival
September 2016 Audio Performance
Tribute to Double Beta, Oscilloscope The Green House, Bangor, UK
November 2014 Sound/Noise Performance
Synthetic Life Group, Temping Failure, The Island, Bristol
August 2014 Brazen Grumpy
Audio Performance, Grumpy Studios, Manchester

July 2014 Project Tryfan - Host/Operator
Performance, Ogwen Valley,North Wales
November 2013 SAPIENS.GRCH37.70
Computer Animation, Beyond Assembling, Mark Deveroux/Federation House, Manchester
March 2013 Sweet Spot
Interactive Sound Sculpture, The Crypt, Bristol
June 2013 Sound/Noise Performance
Synthetic Life Group, The Show 2013, Spike Island, Bristol
November 2012 “Security"
Performance
Entre Chien et Loup (Part 1), Bristol Diving School, Bristol,
Entre Chien et Loup (Part 2), Rother Krebs, Linz, Austria
March 2012 Field Song
Interactive Sound Sculpture, BBC More Than Words Festival, Bristol
February 2012 Machinic Conscious Shell
Video, UWE and Chelsea School of Art, Collaborative event , Picture This,Bristol
September 2012 Soundscape Performance
Synthetic Life Group, AVANTGAARDEN, Bristol Diving School,Bristol
May 2012 Soundscape Performance
Synthetic Life Group, Strange Angel, Southbank, Bristol
March 2011 JizzRazor
Video, (Collaboration with #SaxtonKay), Duck Stamp, Southbank, Bristol

Artist /Maker /Game Designer

Low Fidelity/High Integrity

Missing Mountain

Accretion Entropy

The Fernn Institute

Reality Boffins

About Charles

Artist Support & Mentoring

Projects

Sonic Wave Lab

Further Works

Education & Awards