Decaying Devices and Digital Degradation

Just as organic matter decays over time, so too do digital devices: metals rust, glass shatters and plastic eventually disintegrates, in a way that profoundly affects the content stored within. With ‘Decaying Devices and Digital Degradation’, Filippo Zimmermann undertakes a process of hardware hacking, by disassembling obsolete digital devices and using organic matter to replace the parts that are not required for functioning. These new hybrid devices are fully operational, working to record audio and visual data, review it, and then archive it in a library. By replacing the impenetrable casings of obsolete products with organic matter, the project becomes a means to test and gain knowledge about digital decay, provoking conversations that challenge our understanding of physical hardware and its legacy.