A ritual performance and digital artifact. In 2011, Ball placed live charcoal and authentic Abramelin incense (myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, olive oil) directly atop his iPhone 4S. The burning mixture produced a perfect black carbon circle on the glass, surrounded by a refracted prismatic aura caused by heat-altered oleophobic coating. The residue was documented via macro photography; a Calabi-Yau manifold (6-dimensional geometric model from string theory) was then composited in Photoshop over the burn mark, fusing occult invocation with theoretical physics.
On opening night of Bring Your Own Beamer (BYOB)—a one-night projector-based exhibition in Bermondsey, South London—Ball re-enacted the ritual live. The iPhone was placed screen-up on a plinth; incense reignited; smoke rose through projected light. Real-time documentation was captured and immediately uploaded to the event’s shared server. The physical phone (with permanent black circle) was left on display until the venue closed at dawn.