The Tower of Babylon is a short video document of the first workshop on Dream Machine making that the four project’s key participants (Ruth, Masha, Kathi, and Iain) undertook on July 7, 2020 at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna. 

In the workshop, we used the patterns for Dream Machine made available by Brion Gysin, the machine’s inventor, and constructed our first collective kinetic device. This hands-on workshop allowed us to understand the logic behind the construction, estimate how long it takes to make the machine, and how could our collective time be spent together making jokes, singing songs, and helping each other in some dilemmas.

Later, in other workshops, we would remember our challenges and confusions, and help our participants with advice and practical hints. 

The film is a trace of this first collective process.

THE FILM’S CREDITS:

Camera:

Masha Godovannaya 

Ruthia Jenrbekova 

Iain Zabolotny

Concept, editing, sound, titles: Masha Godovannaya