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Chiffriermaschinen/Enigma Machine

24"W x 20"D x 22"H, 2001

Based on the Enigma devices that the Germans used to encode and decode messages during WWII. Built like a display in a museum: stained oak "vitrines", dioramas, motionless scene behind glass. All is overbuilt, strong and heavy, like equipment of the era.

Left side: Female side, on the ground, warm colors, brown and gold; establishing a connection to the "golden boy" airplaneŠall other planes aren't on her radar; surveyor's tool surveys the field. Dominoes--recombine groups of 5 into many different options--like setting the structure of a code.

Right side: Masculine side: from above, as if in a cockpit; cooler colors, silver and black. Encoder writes in Braille, groups of 5 letters punched in holes w/ stylus. Decoder takes a visual format (movie projector) and changes the medium to a tactile format.