In Second Life each avatar has a trash folder. Items, that get deleted end up in that folder by default.
The trash folder has to get emptied as often as possible, otherwise the avatars performance might diminish.
But, where do deleted things end up? What are those things?
We would like to buy commercial land in Second Life, and then start and maintain a public dumpster for the duration of one year.
We are interested to explore the following questions:
- Is there a need for avatars to get rid of their trash in some other way, then just clicking the delete button?
- What kind of waste will be disposed (objects, viruses, messages, behaviors, avatars, cache, histories, programs, etc.),
and how will this effect the appearance and “inner life” of our land and the dumpster?
- Will the disposal site be a heap that builds up and grows bigger, or will it transform into compost, where “matter” decomposes and turns into new material?
Will we have to program “worms” to initiate this process? And, what will we do with the new substances?
- In which way will we (or Second Life management) be able to control the potential directions of growth?
- Will we be able to create an aesthetically filthy area that sticks out from its artificially clean surroundings?
- What kind of reactions will the dumpster provoke in avatars that own land adjacent to our land?
- How will we be able to get rid of the land and the trash on it after the duration of one year?
We see “Second Life Dumpster” as a continuation of our interest in the value of property, possibilities of land use,
(web) site specifity, ownership and investment. The project will be transported into “still life” in form of snap shots and text.
Related land purchase projects:
International Airport Montello
The Paradox of the 10 Acres Square
1.1 Acre Flat Screen