Jeanine is interested in the ways in which technology shapes, expands and limits our imagination. In a world where technology is increasingly driven by invisible algorithms and the devices around us all have the same tablet shape, she looks for counterparts. She makes machines that are radically different, that bring back a bit of magic and make people wonder about the purpose of the machine. We often view machines as powerful and indestructible, she wants to subvert this notion by embracing vulnerability, malfunction and destruction.

‘Symbiote’ and ‘Evanescent’ are two kinetic printing installations that are almost entirely constructed out of Borosilicate glass. During the performance these machines seem to be malfunctioning or on the verge of self-destruction. The glass gears and glass chains threaten to get stuck in twisted shapes, when the glass breaks, ink is released. The ink drips onto a canvas, creating a print that registers the destruction of the machine. I see these works as a deconstructive performance in which the machine is the performer and I am the assistant.

‘Since 2018 visitors have tried to touch my work often resulting in unintended damage. When exhibiting at ARS Electronica in 2022 I observed the audience’s response to a fragile glass machine’s destruction. Initially hesitant, viewers gradually became absorbed, even expressing disappointment when the damage didn’t occur in front of them. This made me curious about their willingness to participate in the destruction.’

Jeanine wants to investigate the performative qualities of her machines and their connection to the environment, seeking interactions beyond the conventional use of sensors. There is an enormous amount of invisible information that escapes our perception. Even objects that appear static are in constant motion; vibrating, oscillating, resonating. With her installation ‘Chime’ she wants to use resonance and the inherently fragile and flexible qualities of glass to create movement.