S+T+ARTS at Ars Electronica Festival 2020

A New Digital Deal

Festival08.09.21 - 12.09.2109:00 - 18:00
Linz, Austria

Ars Electronica 2021 will take place from September 8 to 12. For the second time since 1979, it will be a hybrid event that includes exhibitions, concerts, talks, conferences, workshops and guided tours in Linz and 100 other locations around the globe. The thematic starting point of this journey around the world this time is the demand for a “New Digital Deal”.

The festival is a platform, stage, forum and laboratory at the same time for presenting and discussing interim results together with its many partners and initiatives, such as S+T+ARTS.

S+T+ARTS promoted events during the festival

Workshops

domestic data streamers
Credit: Data Streamers

Domestic Data Streamers (INT/ES)

September 10, 16h00 – 17h00 CEST

In this workshop the creative team at Domestic Data Streamers will walk you through 8 invisible contemporary violences that have a great impact in our everyday lives. The team will talk about the conceptual research behind the project, how they’ve turned such complex information into an interactive exhibition and will end up with a live collective debate on meaningful questions around the topic.

Supported by Media Futures.

Oceans in transformation
Credit: Ars Electronica – Martin Hieslmair

Oceans in Transformation

Territorial Agency – John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog (INT) | STARTS Prize ´21 Exhibition

September 11, 16h00 – 17h30

Awarded for artistic exploration and art works where appropriation by the arts has a strong potential to influence or alter the use, deployment, or perception of technology.

Oceans in Transformation investigates the impact of human activity on the world ocean. The global ocean is changing its circulations, energies, interactions, and ecologies. It is the most dynamic and sensitive component of our living planet. The ocean is in a new phase of its dynamic history, shaped by intensifications of the impact of human activities on planetary systems—the Anthropocene.

Territorial Agency uses extensively geospatial and remote sensing data to produce public settings—exhibitions, seminars, workshops and online—to guide discussions between multidisciplinary expert groups, scientists, policy makers, activists, conservationists, and to build capacity to act on complex environmental issues.Oceans in Transformationis a project that addresses the challenges linked to multi-scalar data, multi-temporal data, and dynamic environmental data, in direct connection with contemporary arts, architecture, and environmental settings.

Awarded by S+T+ARTS Prize 21.

Lectures & Talks

Credit: Djeneba Aduayom

Art and (invisible) technology: A closer look at Soft Evidence and On View

Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti

September 10, 14h00 – 15h00 CEST

In both Soft Evidence (2021) and On View (2019), Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti incorporate advanced technologies into immersive works that appear to be non-digital—even though they are the opposite. While critically engaging with dilemmas around large scale AI, ubiquitous computing, extractive technologies, and synthetic media, their work highlights the nuanced ways in which technology affects our lives in often invisible ways. In this talk, the duo dive into their approach to using technology both conceptually and technically in their practice. 

Ania Catherine and Dejha Ti, “the two critical contemporary voices on digital art’s international stages” (Clot Magazine) and “LGBT power couple” (Flaunt), are an award-winning experiential artist duo whose practice merges environments, technology, & performance art. Known for their signature poetic approach to technology, they’ve been featured on BBC Click, Bloomberg ART+TECHNOLOGY, Christie’s Art+Tech Summit, SXSW, as well as recognized by the Lumen Prize, S+T+ARTS Prize, and ADC Awards.

Supported by Media Futures.

Gardens

Mindspaces by refik anadol, Credit: Maurice Beanyoin
Mindspaces by refik anadol, Credit: Maurice Beanyoin

MindSpaces Garden Thessaloniki

September 8, 10h00 – September 30, 23h59 CEST. 

‘MindSpaces’ is an endeavor that brings together artists and scientists to tackle societal and urban city design challenges.. People experience the built environment differently according to their social, cultural and economic backgroundS. The variety of this experience requires consideration if we want all users to feel that a particular space or place belongs to them. To this end, ‘MindSpaces’ seeks to transform the practice of architecture by integrating the full diversity of how people experience and behave in the spaces we design through innovative, artistically-driven digital technologies. With the use of virtual reality, biosensors, artificial intelligence, algorithms and simulations, design decisions may be taken in consideration of a more detailed understanding of the users’ preferences and collective behaviour.

MindSpaces Garden will host a) a teaser of an upcoming exhibition showcasing the research of the open call selected artists, in collaboration with the technical partners of the MindSpaces consortium b) the ZHA Workplaces.AI interactive app, which allows each user to generate their own workplace environments by manipulating design parameters to simulate and immersively experience how a crowd of workplace “agents” behaves and, c) an online meet-up that will bring together the artists and architects of the MindSpaces consortium.

Session on Art-Technology architecture: September 9, 13h30 – 15h00 CEST

Architecture today is a multidisciplinary knowledge platform, combining input from engineering, the humanities, and the environmental, cognitive and social sciences. Technological advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning and physiological sensing are radically affecting the entire world of architecture and can foster and enhance the creative process of architects. By engaging architects, engineers, scientists and artists in a broad exploration of these technologies, it is time to expand the design capabilities of architects, transform the attributes of architectural and urban, physical or virtual designed environments; while respecting human needs and sensitivities and promoting a new, more inclusive agenda for human life and experience. How can the dialogue between art, science and technology lead to a design process that makes our habitat (cities and nature) more inclusive, innovative, and creative?

In this session, we have invited artists, architects and researchers on AI from the STARTS H2020 MindSpaces project to present their exploration with these technologies and their creative practice at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, architecture and design. Program Keynote: AI technologies for Art & Design. The MindSpaces paradigm, Stefanos Vrochidis (GR) Senior Researcher (Grade C’) with CERTH-ITI and the Head of the Multimodal Data Fusion and Analytics Group.

Speakers: Refik Anadol (TR/US), media artist, director, and pioneer in the aesthetics of machine intelligence; Maurice Benayoun (HK/FR), French pioneer, contemporary new-media artist, curator and theorist, based in Paris and Hong Kong; Tyson Hosmer (UK), Associate Researcher at Zaha Hadid Architects, leading grant-funded research development of cognitive agent-based technologies and machine learning for generative design; Anastasios Tellios (GR), Professor of Architectural Design: Theory and Practice at the School of Architecture, AUTH. Moderator: Nefeli Georgakopoulou (GR), Senior Research Associate with CERTH-ITI, architect and media artist.

Credits: Art in Flux: Reclaimed virtual exhibition featuring the work of Aminder Virdee, Aphra Shemza & Stuart Batchelor, Camille Baker, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, Enrique Agudo, Kimatica, Natasha Trotman, Olive Gingrich & Shama Rahman and Ro Greengrass & Maddy James

In the Invisible Garden – where the magic happens…

University for the Creative Arts (GB) | Ars Electronica UK Garden

September 8, 10h00 – September 30, 23h59 CEST. 

The UK Gardendraws inspiration from the bookIn the Invisible Gardenby Valerie Picard about a city girl, Arianne, who travels to the countryside for her grandma’s birthday. The despondent child sits alone among the chattering adults until one of the grownups suggests for her to play in grandma’s garden. Thus, Arianne goes outside, where a small stone draws her attention to a cluster of swarming insects. The insects are immense as they soar above the mountaintops — or is Arianne perhaps minuscule? She discovers the vast freedom of her imagination. How far can one’s imagination reach? For artists working at the intersection of art, science and technology, it is sometimes the smallest detail that sparks wonder, the unnoticeable conceptual design processes, or even the use of novel science and technology tools. The imagination of artists collaborating with scientists or technology experts is free like that of a child in an unexplored garden full of exotic new possibilities – this is where the magic happens…

Session on How to stay a critical artist when working with the industry: September 9, 18h00 – 19h00 CEST

Artists are constantly facing new challenges, with NFT for instance being a recent and ongoing issue. How do artists maintain their ethical position as well as remain relevant, catalytic, and critical while working with industry and trying to make a living? What are the ramifications of entering the market and selling their work? How can artists ensure they consider the social, economic and environmental impact of working with industry?

Supported by S+T+ARTS Ecosystem.

Credit: Filippo Nassetti & Vincenzo Reale

Re-THINK FASHION | Collaborative development for urban manufacturing

Linz/Berlin/Valencia

The research project Re-FREAM is exploring the interaction between the domains of fashion, design, science, craft and technology, hereby promoting a space for co-creation and research, where experimental projects will connect artists with scientists and technologists for better human-centered and sustainable solutions. The focus of the research is the future of urban fashion manufacturing, using additive manufacturing (3D printing), electronics, and eco-innovative finishing. Informed by social and environmental values, these methods could create a new value chain for the fashion industry. Over a nine-month period, these hybrid teams were on a co-research and co-creation journey guided by a specific art-tech collaboration methodology in which they employed powerful technologies from some of the world’s most cutting-edge labs. The Re-FREAM Garden shows the results of several co-creation projects, illustrating the potential of combining art with technology, crafting and sciences. The projects reveal a speculative perspective on fashion and open new spheres for design, sustainable production and a new value chain. 

Session on Made in your city: a new value chain for fashion: September 9, 17h45 – 18h45 CEST

New technologies and processes enable fashion production to return to places where textiles are worn. Right next to consumers, accustomed to their individual needs, produced out of sustainable materials. Re-FREAM´s vision is to make fashion production, processes and materials more sustainable and inclusive, and to manufacture them in urban settings. In this panel, international artists, designers and experts discuss their perspectives on future options for clothing production. They share their experiences with inclusive development processes, new sustainable material and encountered chances of urban manufacturing. Over a nine-month period, the artists and designers were part of a co-research and co-creation project named Re-FREAM, guided by a specific art/tech collaboration methodology in which they employed some of the most powerful technologies from some of the world’s most cutting-edge labs. The focus of the research is on the future of urban manufacturing of fashion by using additive manufacturing (3D printing), electronics, textiles and eco-innovative finishing together with social and environmental values to create a new value chain for fashion.

S+T+ARTS Day

September 9 – Morning (10h00 – 14h00 CEST)

Welcome to S+T+ARTS Day (10h00 – 10h10)

S+T+ARTS Talk – In Conversation with Territorial Agency (10h10 – 10h40)

As part of the STARTS initiative, the STARTS Prize awards the most pioneering results and collaborations in the field of creativity and innovation at the intersection of science, technology and the arts. The STARTS Talks 2021 present the people behind the projects, their approaches and perspectives, their methods and the outstanding projects that resulted from these interdisciplinary collaborations.  In this session Lucas Evers and Territorial Agency (John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog) dive into Oceans In Transformation, this years Grand Prize for Artistic Exploration. Oceans in Transformation is a large scale artistic project that addresses the challenges linked to multi-scalar, multi-temporal and dynamic environmental data, and investigates the impact of human activities on our oceans through data visualization, exhibitions, workshops and capacity building programmes.Break (10h40 – 11h00)

Data Deep Dive – On visualizing critical challenges (11h00 – 12h30)

Credit: Oceans in Transformation / Territorial Agency – John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog (INT), Credit: Giorgio Fiorese

With many of the current global challenges, rigorous analysis of data gathered through digital methods such as geospatial analysis or earth observation can bring about an understanding for how they affect the environment, society and individual humans as well as shine a light on possible solutions. Often, the information generated through these tools is too complex to digest for non-expert audiences. Artists, scientists, and architects are taking up this task and are applying various methods of data visualization and investigative data analysis in their work. By translating complex information and making it tangible through their artwork, prototypes, online platforms, workshops, and capacity building programmes they’re advocating for transparency and empowering their audiences to join in in the discussion. This keynote and roundtable discussion connects perspectives from architecture and research tackling a transparent and open approach to data in their work.Break (12h30 – 12h40)

Creating with Data – From Arts to Entrepreneurship (12h40 – 13h40)

Data has changed our lives in more than one way, from how we socialise online and run businesses to how we access public services and do science. It has been called the “raw material” of the digital age, fuelling creativity and innovation. And yet, its use has also raised challenges, including privacy, online polarisation, and digital inequality. This session will discuss some of these tensions with artists and entrepreneurs – artists have long used data to create new work, sometimes commenting on some of these challenges; businesses have valued the way it can inform decisions, despite concerns that it tends to promote incremental rather than disruptive innovation. The session is organised by MediaFutures, a three years initiative, co-funded through Horizon 2020, which delivers an accelerator and arts residency programme tackling the perils of mis- and disinformation online.

September 9 – Afternoon (15h00 – 20h15 CEST)

STARTS Talk: In Conversation with Anastasia Pistofidou & Marion Real (15h05 – 15h35)

As part of the STARTS initiative, the STARTS Prize awards the most pioneering results and collaborations in the field of creativity and innovation at the intersection of science, technology and the arts. The STARTS Talks 2021 present the people behind the projects, their approaches and perspectives, their methods and the outstanding projects that resulted from these interdisciplinary collaborations.  Lucas Evers is joined by digital fabrication expert Anastasia Pistofidou and design researcher Marion Real for a deep dive into Remix El Barrio, this year’s Grand Prize for Innovative Collaboration. Remix El Barrio is a pilot built around the ecosystem of Fab Lab Barcelona, where a group of designers worked on innovative ways of collecting, investigating and processing food waste and imagining future applications and material life-cycle narratives.

Break (15h35 – 16h00)

Fabrication Deep Dive: On the future of sustainable manufacturing (16h00 – 17h30)

Credit: Remix El Barrio – Dihue Miguens Ortiz

During a time when a critical rethinking and restructuring of production cycles is becoming more and more urgent, artists, architects, designers and engineers are at the forefront of developing protoypes and processes that have the potential to make manufacturing across various fields more sustainable, equitable and empathic towards both humans and the environment. From ethical design principles to revolutionary techniques of building to material innovation in product design, this keynote and roundtable discussion brings together revolutionary perspectives from architecture, robotics and digital fabrication.

Break (17h30 – 17h45)

MADE IN YOUR CITY – A new value chain for fashion (17h45 – 18h45)

Credit: Filippo Nassetti & Vincenzo Reale

New technologies and processes enable fashion production to return to places where textiles are worn. Right next to consumers, accustomed to their individual needs, produced out of sustainable materials. Re-FREAM´s vision is to make fashion production, processes and materials more sustainable and inclusive, and to manufacture them in urban settings. In this panel, international artists, designers and experts discuss their perspectives on future options for clothing production. They share their experiences with inclusive development processes, new sustainable material and encountered chances of urban manufacturing. Over a nine-month period, the artists and designers were part of a co-research and co-creation project named Re-FREAM, guided by a specific art/tech collaboration methodology in which they employed some of the most powerful technologies from some of the world’s most cutting-edge labs. The focus of the research is on the future of urban manufacturing of fashion by using additive manufacturing (3D printing), electronics, textiles and eco-innovative finishing together with social and environmental values to create a new value chain for fashion.

Meet the STARTS community (19h00 – 20h15)

Credit: Håkan Lidbo

STARTS promotes the inclusion of artists in research and innovation activities throughout Europe. The bride community as well as interested artists and experts are warmly welcome to get together over a drink in this Networking Event following the daily Highlights.

S+T+ARTS Tour

Kristina Maurer, ARS-Electronica
September 9, 13h45 – 14h45 CEST

Credit: Grow Your Own Cloud

The STARTS Tour showcases best practice examples at the intersection of science, technology and art. From scenarios for local, circular economies based on food-waste craft, to large-scale data driven explorations of the condition of our oceans and visionary new scenarios for sustainable data storage, the artistic perspectives at the heart of this tour tackle the big challenges that lie ahead of us through both a microscopic and a macroscopic lens. Kristina Maurer and Karla Spiluttini take the viewers on a journey through some of the most outstanding, recent artistic projects within the European Commission’s STARTS initiative on view this year in the theme exhibition in Kepler’s Garden.