Transitopia, Naas, Ireland, 08.

The Academy of Future History

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For Transitopia 2008, an art project initiated in Naas, The Academy of Future History collaborated with Parking Meter Arts and Kildare County Council to present N-Seventh, a dynamic research project that took place on the N7, N6 and N4 motorways. The investigation focussed itself on the commuters of the 21st century, specifically those commuters who travelled by way of motor vehicle. Until now the forces that drove these motorists to embark on their daily crusades at the turn of the millennium have been a mystery to us. Their activities have been shrouded by the passage of time. By analysing the behaviour that typified these unique motorways, the Academy of Future History hopes that more of the illusive enigmas that surround the early 21st century can again be brought to light.

Over the course of a five week period, a researcher from the Academy re-travelled the voyage lines pilgrimaged by the commuters of the early 21st century. This took our researcher along trails once famed for the sheer volume of traffic that passed over their tarmacadamed surfaces. He travelled in a replica of a vehicle frequently used by the workers of post Celtic Tiger Ireland, a diesel fuelled vanette. With him he took a Panthonomine, a bulky instrument used to gauge and correlate the various readings necessary to analyse the social activities that took place along the, once named, N6, N5 and N7 motorways. In addition to this, a dictaphone dating from the era was used to record his findings. This rudimentary system enabled him to capture audio material onto magnetic tape via a hand held mechanical devise. Through extensive methodological examination and diligent fieldwork the nature of these road ways was reawakened and examined afresh.

The data that was collected over the period of on-site research has been used to formulate a detailed anthropological account of the 21st century commuter. The resulting case study was recorded back onto dictaphone tape and 30 copies were produced over the course of the N-Seventh research project. These dictaphone tapes have been buried at 30 of the most important sites that were visited by the researcher from the Academy of Future History. It is hoped that these time capsules will serve as vessels that can effectively communicate the enthralling particularities of the early 21st century to curious members of generations past.

By following a map circulated by Parking Meter Arts these sites may be located. Each burial location lies at the road edge and is clearly marked with a cast iron metal plate. Underneath this high-vis marker a small capsule containing illuminating insights into a world almost lost from our grasp can be found- the world of the 21st century commuter.

Among the other fascinating topics that are covered by the audio case study you will discover a thorough exploration of the following issues.

- the methods that were employed by commuters to express, dispute and finally re-negotiate social stature on the motorways of east Ireland.

- vehicle colour strategies among individual and mass groups.

- the illusive connection that the 21st century driver maintained with foreign oil.

- timing, refuelling and travelling in small groups, or ‘quartlets’.

It is the sincere hope of the Academy of Future History that this project will go on to teach and inspire those who come in contact with it, without any prejudice to the age that they live in

A publication documenting all Transitopia 08 projects will be launched in late November. It will feature a comprehensive map that details all locations of burial sites. For more information on Transitopia 08 please visit their website.

A replica of the Panthonomine used in the N-Seventh project, along with documentary material, were exhibited at the projects launch. This information point remained in Kildares Aras An Contae building for two weeks (see below).

The below image is a scan of one of the maps that were distributed to the public. By using it you can navigate your way to one of the 30 burial sites and unearth an original time capsule buried by the Academy of Future History.

In the coming days footage of drivers finding time capsules will be added. In addition to this examples of the audio tapes that were contained within them will be posted on the site as soon as is possible. Each tape was different and covered a specific aspect of the anthropological investigation eg. Chapter 28: The hierarchy of lane changing and its relation to the ego.