From Deaf 04, 30 Nov 2004

Techreport: Biennale.py

by Pike van Kemenade

The DEAF04 techreports try to give some technical insight in a selection of DEAF04 projects. They are aimed at an audience of programmers and project managers and may require some technical background.

"The more you know about its language, its forms and its expressions, the more you will learn to appreciate Art"

I won't recount how often my art history teachers have told me this. But it wasn't until I read biennale.py that I understood how right they were. You don't have speak Python to read the little program; however, it helps you appreciate it.

if not party in wank:
for guest in guestbook:
chat(party,guest)

If you know a little more about programming, you will realize this little sinner is a virus. it will try to insert its body into every soul at the party; unless, of course, it's a wanking party.

Biennale.py was released at the 49th Biennale di Venezia in 2001 as a piece of art. At DEAF04, the remedy is released: a Norton AntiVirus module that locates infected files and disinfects them. The virus and the antivirus software run simultaneously, creating a race or a "Perpetual Self Dis-Infecting Machine".
The innoculated files are dumped on the desktop, which gets cluttered with Python files, until the machine reboots and the process starts again.
The installation is very literally an 'open system': all hardware is mounted between two glass plates. Perhaps, inadvertently, all this hardware displayed makes you realize how virtual a computer virus really is.

Does it work?

Yes. If an infected file is activated, it will infect every other Python file you have write access to. Replication is what defines a virus. And since it's Python, it's multi-platform.

Is it dangerous?

Moderately. If you are a normal user, not Root or Administrator, most of the Python files you have write access to have to be activated by hand. But unless you're a Python programmer that won't be such a big deal.
However, if you activate an infected file as Root or Administrator, the virus will eventually hit the core Python modules, like "os" and "sys". A lot of programs use python in the background. Your system may not be able to reboot at all.

Is it Art?

Do you care? It is skillfully crafted; it has a poetic component; in its expression it is a statement about Art. But if it's Art, it may be the most aggressive self-replicating piece of art I've ever seen.