A punched card is a stiff paper medium used to store digital data, encoded through the presence or absence of holes in predefined positions. Punched Card 1 (2022) and Punched Card 2 (2022) reinterpret the punched cards widely used in the 1920s, paying homage to an era when these perforated sheets were central to data processing. Throughout the 20th century, punched cards played a crucial role in computing, with the IBM 12-row/80-column format emerging as the dominant standard. Many early digital computers relied on them as the primary method for inputting programs and data, supported by specialized unit record machines that helped organize and process information in early semi-automated data systems. Although punched cards largely became obsolete as a storage medium by 2012, some voting machines still use them today to record ballots. Punched cards embody the origins of human-machine interaction, marking the first instance where information was physically encoded for digital interpretation. As a tangible artifact of computing history, they serve as a bridge between the physical and digital worlds, highlighting the profound transition from early mechanical data storage to today’s intangible digital realm.

Q: How do you perceive the significance of punched cards in the history of computing?

Tan Mu: These works were inspired by early punched cards, which played a foundational role in twentieth century computing as tools for data input, output, and storage. Punched cards represent a critical transitional moment between mechanical systems and electronic computation. Through physical perforations, information could be encoded, processed, and preserved, enabling early computers to perform logical operations. Although this method has long been replaced by more advanced technologies, punched cards remain essential artifacts in the history of computing, marking the origins of structured data processing.

Q: What similarities do you see between punched cards and early human methods of recording information?

Tan Mu: While working on this series, I was reminded of how early civilizations used knotted cords to record information. Whether through holes punched into cards or knots tied into strings, both systems rely on physical intervention to encode meaning. This parallel fascinates me because it reveals a continuous human impulse to externalize memory through material systems. Across vastly different eras, humans have consistently relied on tangible marks to store, transmit, and preserve knowledge. Punched cards embody this moment where physical encoding begins to transition toward abstraction, bridging ancient memory systems and modern computation.

Q: How do you compare punched cards to contemporary data storage technologies?

Tan Mu: Punched cards made data visible and interpretable through their physical form. One could literally see information encoded in the arrangement of holes. In contrast, contemporary storage technologies such as hard drives and cloud systems operate through layers of abstraction that are largely invisible to humans. While modern systems offer exponentially greater capacity and speed, they also distance us from the physicality of information. As computing continues to advance, much of the data we leave behind may exist in forms only machines can fully interpret. This raises questions about how future generations will understand the records of our time.

Q: Punched Card depicts an early data storage system. How does it connect to Memory, your work on contemporary data centers?

Tan Mu: Punched Card and Memory are closely linked, as both examine how information is stored across different technological eras. Punched cards represent the beginning of structured data storage, while Memory addresses the vast infrastructures of modern data centers. Together, these works trace a lineage from early physical encoding to contemporary digital preservation. They are part of my broader exploration of how humanity records experience, knowledge, and history through evolving technological systems.

Punched Card also connects to my work Note G, as both address overlooked narratives within computing history, particularly the role of women.

Q: You mentioned the relationship between punched cards and women’s labor. Could you elaborate on this aspect?

Tan Mu: Punched cards are not only technological artifacts, but also records of labor. In the early days of computing, data processing depended heavily on manual, repetitive work, much of which was performed by women. They operated punch machines, sorted cards, and managed vast quantities of data on a daily basis. This labor was meticulous, physically demanding, and largely invisible, similar to factory work in textile mills. By engaging with punched cards, I am also acknowledging this overlooked history and the essential role women played in shaping early computing systems.