The Year's Midnight

Here is the short version of this blip: go and see the Digital Revolution exhibition at the Barbican if you can - it's brill.

Here is the very long version of this blip if you can bear it...

Alternative title is: "Don't you want Me" by the Human League. Although not the proper title of this interactive digital artwork by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, it seems appropriate and the song does also feature in the Barbican's truly absorbing Digital Revolution exhibition. Why? Because it was the first of many fine poptastic songs that used the linn-LM1 drum machine.

I spent my first 10 very happy minutes of the exhibition listening to this anthem from my youth while watching clips from various films that have featured groundbreaking computer generated vis fx. You could've left me there, back in 1981 grooving my socks off were it not for the many rooms-worth of digital wonders waiting to be explored.

And it really is full of wonders - if you get the chance GO. It's like a giant digital toy box, playground and classroom all rolled into one - there's so much to explore, play with and learn about and sometimes it's properly magical.

'Show' is definitely the right word in places; you get the chance to grow wings and fly for heaven's sake, while in the laser room you dance with lasers and complete strangers in the dark. And when did you last telephone birds made from scrap computers, for a chat?

We tend to work quickly in this digital age so it's surprising that here you have to slow down to find and appreciate all that the show offers. And I really like the fact that you have to get out your own digital microscope to discover and fully experience the wonders of the show.

Even if you can't come and see it here's a little take home present for all my fellow blippers. Consider it a gift from the exhibition, Fabrica the artists and me, to you...

Exquisite Clock is a series of six images representing the current time which obviously change as the seconds, minutes and hours tick by. You'll have to take a look to understand what I'm wittering on about. And we - you, me, all of us are invited to contribute to the exquisite clock by uploading images to represent any one of the digits from 0 to 9. These are then incorporated into this ever-changing online clock. It's also available as an app I've just discovered :-)

Words of advice in negotiating this splendid exhibition? Firstly give yourself plenty of time. This is NOT an exhibition to rush round - you need to take time to get to know some of the exhibits especially the less obvious ones, otherwise you'll miss out and you might leave feeling let down. We went with the kids and we stayed for 5 HOURS and honestly we could've taken longer. I want to go back in fact. Anyone coming?

Secondly take care not to miss the little things. There are lots of big, spectacular pieces but some of the small screens hold the biggest wonders for me. Like a website showing artists portfolios that has each artist marching round the screen as a little cartoon dog. Click on a little artist dog and then click the dots to see examples of the artist's work and a précis of their talents. Sounds daft but a really neat and inspiring way to see all this creative work. Makes most gallery and artists websites look like an absolute Y-A-W-N and soooo boring.

There's even a room of computer games to play although some of them are impenetrable to non-gamers and not just us. We've only ever had a Nintendo DS so I don't even know how to use the modern controllers. Anyway the best game by FAR, (which we spent nearly an hour playing 'til the exhibition shut at 8pm) is The Unfinished Swan - a beautiful game that subverts the whole shoot 'em up concept. So good it's made me want to buy a PS3 so we can play the rest!

This exhibition looks solely at the development and application of digital in entertainment: games, film, fashion, art, music; but still the scale and breadth is breathtaking and makes you realise what an extraordinary era this really is. The word 'revolution' is completely apt and we're all slap bang in the middle of it.

Go to be inspired or simply to look on in awe. Either way while you're there make a wish. A digital wish of course. Whisper your wish into a microphone and watch it appear in front of you as a handwritten note which slowly dissolves and turns into a butterfly. If you're quick you can even put your hands out to hold it, before it flutters away to join the rest of the digital butterflies. Sheer magic.