Lya Finston

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    Printmaking
    Animation
    Optical Toys
    Installation
    Books

    Human Copy Machine

  
 


      
                  
                          



    The Human Copy Machine is an interactive performance that investigates the absurdity of the editioning process by prioritizing human over mechanical reproduction. This constitutes a playful reversal of printmaking’s normal functionality. In doing so, this project explores themes of uniformity and repetition, human error, and the role of the hand in the mechanical reproduction of multiples.
    . The Machine itself is a large box, approximately 5 ft tall, 3 ft wide, and 6 ft deep. It’s constructed of painted insulation foam, papier-mǎché, velcro, plexiglass, and large buttons that trigger scanning and printing sound effects. The structure is decorated to resemble a giant copy machine with an input slot and an output tray.
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    . During each performance, 1-2 volunteers sit inside the Machine while participants on the outside make simple drawings on computer paper. Once complete, these participants indiciate how many copies of their drawing they would like by writing a number from 1-3 in the bottom corner of the paper. The volunteer(s) inside the machine are now tasked with hand-drawing the requested amount of copies as quickly as possible.
    . We often display the drawings produced during the performance on the walls surrounding the Copy Machine, constituting a makeshift exhibition. At its conclusion, participants have the option to either keep their copies or donate them to the project. All donated drawings can be viewed in the digital archive below.
    .The Human Copy Machine debuted at the Mid America Print Council conference at Kent State University in October 2022. Since then, it’s also performed at the Rocky Mountain Print Alliance’s 2023 Symposium in Spokane, WA, the 2023 Sculpture & Intermedia Open House at the University of Iowa, the 2025 Chicago Printers’ Guild Publishers’ Fair, and the 2025 TCA Zine Fest at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.