Do Not Touch

Do Not Touch Do Not Touch Do Not Touch

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Artwork, mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004. Steel rod inserted into rubber flooring giving mild electric shock.

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Details

Category:
Art
Object Number:
2018-457
Materials:
stainless steel and plastic (unidentified)
Measurements:
Pole height as installed: 5950 mm 206 mm,
type:
artwork and art installation
credit:
Christian Moeller

Parts

Do Not Touch: Upper Pole

Do Not Touch: Upper Pole

Upper part of large pole for mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004. The pole should reach from floor to ceiling.

More

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Measurements:
overall: 4445 mm 200 mm,
Materials:
stainless steel
Object Number:
2018-457/1
type:
artwork and art installation
Do Not Touch: Lower Pole

Do Not Touch: Lower Pole

Lower part of large pole, and shock bars, for mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004. The shock bars form the centre of the 6m-high pole, and deliver an electric shock when touched by a visitor. The pole should reach from floor to ceiling.

More

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Measurements:
overall: 1410 mm 206 mm,
Materials:
stainless steel and plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2018-457/2
type:
artwork and art installation
Do Not Touch: Computer

Do Not Touch: Computer

Computer with cables for mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004. The computer also contains the software that runs 'Do Not Touch'.

More

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Measurements:
overall: 138 mm x 357 mm x 402 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal plated (unknown)
Object Number:
2018-457/3
type:
artwork and art installation
Do Not Touch: Shock Box

Do Not Touch: Shock Box

Shock box for mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004. The shock box provides the controlled electric shock when the pole is touched by the visitor.

More

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Measurements:
overall: 155 mm x 355 mm x 500 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2018-457/4
type:
artwork and art installation
Do Not Touch: Screws

Do Not Touch: Screws

30 Screws for mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004.

2 large bolts for bottom of pole, securing it to the ground (plus nuts and washers), 2 extra large screws, 1 large screw, 14 medium skinny screws, 7 medium screws,1 skinny screw, 1 small screw, 2 small skinny screws.

More

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Materials:
metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2018-457/5
type:
artwork and art installation
Do Not Touch: Camera

Do Not Touch: Camera

Camera for mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004. The camera observes when visitors approach the artwork and triggers the speaker to emit a warning sound.

More

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Measurements:
overall: 160 mm x 100 mm x 130 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified) , glass and metal (unknown)
Object Number:
2018-457/6
type:
artwork and art installation
Do Not Touch: Speaker

Do Not Touch: Speaker

Speaker for mixed media installation 'Do Not Touch',by Christian Moeller, Europe, 2004. The speaker emits a warning sound in response to visitor proximity to the artwork, and then when the pole is touched.

More

Do Not Touch is a simultaneously titillating and unnerving art installation which suggests an element of unpredictability in a risk-free museum environment. The artwork subversively creates conflict by tempting you to do precisely what you are being warned not to do. A sign on the floor around a tall metal pole clearly says 'DO NOT TOUCH', yet there is no safety barrier to prevent you from doing so. Would you choose to touch it? When you ignore the warning by touching the pole, you experience an electric shock, amplified by sound. 'Do Not Touch' was on display in the Energy Gallery at the Science Museum from 2004 to 2018.

Measurements:
overall: 105 mm 328 mm,
Materials:
plastic (unidentified)
Object Number:
2018-457/7
type:
artwork and art installation