The League of Imaginary Scientists is a non-exclusive society for creative scientists, mechanically-inclined artists, absurdist inventors, and self-proclaimed quacks (think subterfuge meets centrifuge). The League specializes in building mega-media constructions of scientific mythologies. Media artist Lucy H. G. is a returning LKV artist-in-residence, having worked and exhibited in Trondheim in winter, 2005. As Dr. L. Hernandez Gomez, she acts as coordinating researcher for the League, pulling from the collective creativity of local and remote artists to realize interactive mega-media installations. Collaborators for The Childhood Machine include Matt Solomon from Los Angeles, artists Anne Helga Henning and Pol Buyesen of Trondheim, with remote engineering by Jeremy Schwartz and Steve Shoffner in Los Angeles and sound development by Imaginationandmymother in London.

The Childhood Machine, presented at Babel Art Space, is an interactive kinetic installation that incorporates newer-than-new age idea therapy to transport viewers to their past – a return to childhood. The League’s engineering division developed The Childhood Machine in the hopes of reversing the psychological and ecological damage wrought by Western Civilization. The machine is designed to reverse Progress in a complicated process of regression that requires precise mental and atmospheric conditions (78% childlike curiosity and 22% humidity). Visitors to the exhibit, as children, will inevitable grow up again: time, it is revealed, is a bi-cycle.

The exhibition includes the interactive childhood machine, a participatory fill-in-the-timeline of the collective childhood of the city of Trondheim, a documentary on the development of The Childhood Machine, artifacts from childhood, and an acoustic flight of fancy. In addition, an online search engine will permit viewers to search time’s index for isolated moments in childhood. The machine itself works in coordination with mental exercises developed by Ms. MU.

Dr. L. Hernandez Gomez will give a lecture on the regressive process of decivilization at the opening reception on Friday, August 17.

This exhibition was made with the support of the Royal Norwegian General Consulate, the community of artists at Lademoen Kunstnerverksteder, Trondheim Electronic Arts Centre (TEKS), Clas Ohlson, and the city of Trondheim, whose discarded bicycles proved constructive.