The Green Tablet

Cindy Hu

Advisor: Sharleen Smith

The Green Tablet presents a collection of make-believe objects grown from research into the assemblages around lithium.

Project Website Presentation
A glowing bottle inside an antique battery jar. The battery jar is put on a table along other antique objects in dim lighting

Abstract

Tablet, in this same word we describe both a small portable computer and a pill as in medicine.

We carry some form of these little metallic tablets of energy with us everyday, inside our phones, watches, laptops. What’s lesser known is their main source of power, lithium, is the same element that makes up a medication for mood disorder. It was historically used as a remedy for hangover and exhaustion. The parallels between our technological gadgets and medical remedy now manifest in more than metaphors.

The Green Tablet presents a collection of objects grown from research into assemblages around lithium. The project finds connections deep in the history of how at times of crisis, we leaned on extraordinary claims of one-size-fits-all solutions to bodily and societal problems. From quack medical devices that use batteries to heal all diseases, to 18th century medication trade cards, the historical objects are subtly modified but hardly noticeable without close examination. In reviving antique objects that were the products of make-believes, the project questions at which points do fake stories become real and real stories start to sound fake.

Amidst the confusion is where we examine closely, trying to find the cracks of reality within the interwoven storylines bridged by the shared origin of lithium.

Installation view at the ITP Show

Technical Details

Antique medical boxes, antique battery jars, 3D printed object, AI generated trade cards, modified magnifying glass, UV flashlight

Installation view at the ITP Show

Research/Context

The project came from long-term research into the assemblages around lithium. The map of assemblages is here: https://shorturl.at/bhL29

A medical battery box opened, with silver plate and its instruction on the top of the box, a glowing green light comes out of a silver tube where the battery used to be.

Further Reading

Lithium. States of Exhaustion, published by Het Nieuwe Instituut & Ediciones ARQ

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison

Does Technology Drive History? The Dilemma of Technological Determinism By Leo Marx and Merritt Roe Smith

Lithium Lake and the lonely island of polyphony by Liu Chuang

  • A medical battery box opened, with silver plate and its instruction on the top of the box, a glowing green light comes out of a silver tube where the battery used to be.
  • A wooden box with words that says, "Monitor Electric Battery No. 18. Greatest Wonder of the Twentieth Century" Inside the box are cards that advertise lithium batteries with children as characters
  • A wooden box with words that says, "Monitor Electric Battery No. 18. Greatest Wonder of the Twentieth Century" Inside the box are cards that advertise lithium batteries with children as characters
  • A magnifying glass put in front a glass jar, lighting up the pills inside with green LED
  • A magnifying glass put in front a glass jar, lighting up the pills inside with green LED
  • A glowing bottle inside an antique battery jar. The battery jar is put on a table along other antique objects in dim lighting
  • A glowing bottle inside an antique battery jar. The battery jar is put on a table along other antique objects in dim lighting
  • A medical battery box on the top left corner of the image, with printed advertisement cards. Another opened medical battery box on the right with instruction on top. The top of a battery jar at the bottom of the image.
  • A medical battery box on the top left corner of the image, with printed advertisement cards. Another opened medical battery box on the right with instruction on top. The top of a battery jar at the bottom of the image.
  • A glowing bottle inside an antique battery jar. The battery jar is put on a table along other antique objects in dim lighting
  • Installation view at the ITP Show
  • A medical battery box opened, with silver plate and its instruction on the top of the box, a glowing green light comes out of a silver tube where the battery used to be.
  • A wooden box with words that says, "Monitor Electric Battery No. 18. Greatest Wonder of the Twentieth Century" Inside the box are cards that advertise lithium batteries with children as characters
  • A magnifying glass put in front a glass jar, lighting up the pills inside with green LED
  • A glowing bottle inside an antique battery jar. The battery jar is put on a table along other antique objects in dim lighting
  • A medical battery box on the top left corner of the image, with printed advertisement cards. Another opened medical battery box on the right with instruction on top. The top of a battery jar at the bottom of the image.
  • A glowing bottle inside an antique battery jar. The battery jar is put on a table along other antique objects in dim lighting