Autonomy Cube is a sculpture designed to be housed in art museums, galleries, and civic spaces. The sculpture is meant to be both “seen” and “used.” This happens in several ways. Internet‐connected computers housed within the work create an open Wi‐Fi hotspot called “Autonomy Cube” wherever it is installed. Anyone can join this network and use it to connect to the Internet.
Autonomy Cube, 2015
Plexiglas cube, computer components
19 ⅝ × 19 ⅝ × 19 ⅝ in.
Autonomy Cube does not provide a normal internet connection. The sculpture routes all of the Wi‐Fi traffic through the Tor network, a global network of thousands of volunteer‐run relays designed to help anonymize data. In addition, Autonomy Cube becomes a part of the Tor network and relays Tor traffic, and is used by Tor users around the world to anonymize their internet use. When Autonomy Cube is installed, both the sculpture, host institution, and users become part of a privacy‐oriented, volunteer run internet infrastructure.
Autonomy Cube was shown at The Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art in 2015, where the sculpture was for the first time configured as an exit node so it can be used worldwide and with repeaters traversing the exhibition space, turning the entire house into an Autonomy Cube that radiates into the city of Oldenburg and beyond.
Plexiglas cube, computer components
19 ⅝ × 19 ⅝ × 19 ⅝ in.
Plexiglas cube, computer components
19 ⅝ × 19 ⅝ × 19 ⅝ in.
Installation view at Edith-Russ-Haus Für Medienkunst, Oldenburg, 2015.
There is also a publication on the Autonomy Cube in relation to the above mentioned exhibition. In the book, two commissioned essays provide critical reading of the Autonomy Cube project – the art historian Dr. Luke Skrebowski positions the piece in the history of institutional critic, meanwhile architect and urbanist Keller Easterling tackles it with its political potential.
If you want to learn more about Tor, check out these links:
Tor Is For Everyone: Why You Should Use Tor
