Ian Gouldstone

Anonymous Enemy Procession  (2018)

In ‘Anonymous Enemy Procession’ Ian Gouldstone has extracted the graphic animation data from several different video games and radically reorganised it to form an image of collective movement. This live simulation shows an endless parade of animated characters walking from left to right across the screen without a clear beginning, end or repeating pattern. Each figure is in fact a typical ‘henchman enemy’ appropriated from a video game connected to a superhero license. In the source material they walk from right to left across the screen and are attacked by the player. Gouldstone has inverted this conventional structure, allowing them to walk in a collective formation and without incident in the same direction that players move.

‘Anonymous Enemy Procession’ reflects a central question in Gouldstone’s practice; how might we appropriate new technologies and contemporary languages designed to maximise spectacle as a way to open up interior, contemplative spaces? This piece, made for the Superheroes Beyond conference at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, invites us to contemplate the anonymous enemies we encounter throughout superhero videogames. Who are they? Why are they our enemies? And why should we fight them?

Thanks To:
Angela Ndalianis, Paul Callaghan, David Surman & ACMI

Additional Sprite Rips By:
8BePan, ACE_Spark, AJ Nitro, Apocalypse Belial the Hedgehog, CabanaMan, Cenobite 53, Cyrus Annihalator Dcat, Deathbringer, Dr Kelexo, Dunkelschwamm, Flavio Arruda Grim, Jackpumpkinhead, Kaos, KingPepe, Lord Zymeth, Magma MK-II Maneko, MR G, Neon Streak, Rad Spyro, Ragey, redblueyellow Roket, SemiJuggalo, ShinDarkfox, SmithyGCN, SomeThingEviL Sousanator, Tomisaurus, Tonberry2k, Ultimecia, ViniciusCI, Yawackhary