White Rabbit 1.0

Author: Naivy Pérez
Title: White Rabbit 1.0
Year: 2009
Genre: Computer virus / Process-based work
Size: 24 KB
Materials: DVD disc
Edition: Unique

STATEMENT

Developed in 2009 during a residency in Sweden, White Rabbit 1.0 was conceived as a computer virus designed to alter the clock system of a Windows-based computer. Once activated, the virus gradually reverses the hours, days, months, and years until it reaches the earliest date permitted by the operating system—at which point it stops.

Although the work was never fully executed publicly due to fears of unintended consequences—where artistic action might be misconstrued as cyberterrorism—its very premise opens a debate on the limits of digital art, institutional control, and system autonomy.

The virus was symbolically propagated through emails and ads mimicking a search: “Alice has lost her White Rabbit. Reward offered to whoever finds it,” establishing a performative mechanism of viral diffusion.