The MDCD is a portable, bubble-powered communication unit, devised to facilitate the public and democratic use of communicative air space. Part ‘hot-dog’ stand, part polling booth, and part mobile radio transmitter, the MDCD invites the public to post their thoughts, hopes, troubles, dreams and wishes anonymously out into public air space.  The stand operates by ‘translating’ the participants posted text into bubbles, activating the air space of the site through a visual demonstration of both ambient wind movement and the constant flow of naturally occurring as well as human generated air-borne data.  Highlighting the shared nature of global air space, the MDCD operates in response to the environmental and social consequences of humanities current use and commoditisation of the atmosphere.

The MDCD was commisioned by the 2008 Next Wave Festival’s Membrane  Project, and sited in various locations around Federation Square, Melbourne during the festival period.

Mobile Democratic Communication Device

2008

1.2 x .08 x 2.0 m

Aluminium and plywood ‘hot-dog’ stand, bicycle wheels and casters, canvas canopy, bubble machine, light, universal timer