Artists Hamilton & Southern have worked collaboratively since 2001, often using off the shelf GPS devices to gather data for installation work. In 2002 they approached Onteca Ltd to work with them on developing the Landlines software, so that the gathering of GPS data could become a live part of an exhibition.

Since that time the project has grown and expanded to be used not only in installed art works but also for social projects, by both the artists and Onteca Ltd.

In the future we will be developing Landlines further to allow for collaborative drawings. Sharelines, a modification of Landlines, will allow two users to see each others movements at a distance on their mobile phones, and to use that information to make shared walks via GPS. Linking one place with another in Sharelines would enable users to virtually swap features of the two landscapes, exchange their routes and make hybrid drawings.

Throughout the development of Landlines we have used different iterations of the software in workshops and projects. In the future we would like to develop these workshops further and to explore the wider scope of geo-applications.

Hamilton & Southern use Landlines in conjunction with other installed media. In their work with local communities the GPS, and the tracks it makes, become vehicles for discussions about the nature of a place, and its meaning to local people. These projects can be seen at www.theportable.tv

Landlines was most recently used in the exhibition ‘Running Stitch: A tapestry map, created live, using satellite navigation’ at Fabrica Gallery, Brighton 17/11/06 – 17/12/06.
www.fabrica.org.uk