With a background in architecture and an avid interest in street art, web development and DIY culture, Berlin-based artist Aram Bartholl explores the relationship between the online and offline worlds, continually questioning the impact on our lives of the digital age. ‘Dead Drops’ is an anonymous, offline, peer to peer file-sharing network in public space. USB flash drives are embedded into walls, buildings and curbs accessible to anybody in public space. Everyone is invited to drop or find files on a dead drop. Plug your laptop to a wall, house or pole to share your favorite files and data. Each dead drop is installed empty except a readme.txt file explaining the project. ‘Dead Drops’ is open to participation. If you want to install a dead drop in your city/neighborhood follow the ‘how to’ instructions and submit the location and pictures.
What have people put on the dead drops?
It’s a secret! You should go there and take a look. The whole point is that it’s a dead drop and it’s not on the internet, so we don’t know. It’s very much about the thrill and the idea of what’s on there and what could be on there. My friend, who is a musician, said he could release his new album on there, so everyone who wants it would have to go to that place. There are many possibilities for using them to find new ways to distribute data.
