In the early 1980s, the 8-bit Nintendo NES game console revolutionised the entertainment market. From then on computer technology was no longer used purely for work purposes, but also for the masses as a medium for entertainment. In his works, Cory Arcangel (b. 1978) makes use of the games console, long since overtaken by millions of bits, and ‘hacks’ into its games. The progress of some games is interrupted and short-circuited, and they are reduced to their monochrome picture backgrounds, while other games are given a new narrative. Underlying the works is not just a nostalgic idea, but also an evaluation and reinterpretation of the game system, as well as an interest in composing electronic minimal music using 8-bit technology.

Curated by Raphael Gygax