I’m Gonna Survive (2009)

Locative media installation 
Dimensions: variable
Commissioned by Stichting Natuurkunst Drenthe for the 2009 Overleven Sculpture Symposium: Surviving / About Live

Website: www.IamGonnaSurvive.com

Commissioned by Stichting Natuurkunst Drenthe, the “I’m Gonna Survive” interactive Google Maps project explores the theme of life and endurance in the modern wilderness. 

The installation consists of items such as canned food, matches, a First Aid kit, and a diary, all hidden in various places of the forest. Each piece is sealed in protective plastic and marked by a metal Google sign. As essentials, these items represent the bare minimum required for survival. 

Additionally, a collection of items such as a book (Walden; Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau), a credit card, a Tetris game, Amazon ads, bus tickets, and a mobile phone charger can be found scattered throughout the forest. While these items are not bare necessities, they contribute to a comfortable survival as interpreted through a contemporary urban perspective. 

For accessibility, each item has its own Google “Placemark” name which includes information about the item, a photograph of its specific location and its unique GPS coordinates. Users can locate all of the items in the following ways:

- Using a GPS machine or a mobile phone that supports GPS navigation and Google Maps (such as an iPhone, Nokia N97, etc.)

- Accessing the official website: www.IamGonnaSurvive.com

- Consulting a printed map that can be obtained from Stichting Natuurkunst Drenthe

The irony of this installation is hinted through H. D. Thoreau’s book, “Walden” which details Thoreau’s residence in a secluded woodland cabin. Contrary to the user who discovers the book, Thoreau himself, deliberately sought proximity to nature and distance from consumerist outlooks by dwelling in the wilderness. The lure of contemporary goods, however, is symbolized by his craving for cookies. The luxury items hidden throughout the forest highlight this attraction and offer a small slice of comfort to the visitor seeking refuge in the forest.