Excursions is an attempt to interrogate the aesthetics of Google Earth technology — its form, construction and character. The technology allows a common view of the Earth which is accessible to anybody with access to the internet. It changes not only the aesthetic view of the Earth, but also distorts our understanding of time and scale through its ability to transport us anywhere in a fraction of a second. Through ‘wandering’ this digital space, the excursions present not only new perspectives of the land and its features but also a new experience of Earth — one that cannot be emulated in real life. In this way, Google Earth is not trying to replace the real life lived experience, but provides a new lens through which to supplement it.
Created by Lottie Brzozowski for Digital Aesthetics (Royal College of Art, 2020)