The Cylindric Ultrasonic Bat Detector was developed for ‘slave’, an exhibition curated by Christopher LG Hill, Kain Picken, Rob McKenzie and Nick Selenitsch at the Margaret Lawrence Gallery, VCA, Melbourne.
VCA gallery is situated adjacent to the Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens, home to Victoria’s largest colony of flying foxes (bats). In 2001 the Botanical Gardens implemented a program to remove the colony, resulting in public outcry and protest. This event mobilized a large number of bat lovers, bringing to light an interest group that had previously gone unnoticed. The Cylindric Ultrasonic Bat Detector draws on the resources of bat interest groups and is based on DIY bat detector plans down loaded from the internet. The detector circuit is housed inside a re-tasked Braun cigarette lighter designed by Dieter Rams.
