Exploring the world in Deep Space 8K  

During the Ars Electronica Festival, numerous highlights will be presented in Deep Space 8K, promising inspiration, interaction and information. 

Can the search for life on other planets give us hope of overcoming the challenges on our planet? What inspiration can we draw from the collaboration between humans and machines? How can artificial intelligence foster creativity in the next generation? The Ars Electronica Festival 2024 is all about hope – not as passive waiting, but as active creation and action. Under the theme “HOPE – who will turn the tide”, Deep Space 8K will once again be the setting for visionary presentations and impressive performances that show visitors how hope can serve as a driving force for change and innovation. 

Calling for Help: Can ET Save Us? 

Dan Tell, Planetarium Engineering Manager at the Morrison Planetarium of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, brings an interactive 3D stereo presentation to Linz. “Calling for Help: Can ET Save Us?” analyzes the search for civilizations on other planets and the simultaneous sending of signals and messages into space. Can civilizations from the far reaches of space perhaps help us with the challenges we face? The project is not only informative but also inspiring and invites visitors to reflect on the possibilities of interstellar exchange. 

Deep Sea 

Those who would rather dive into the depths of the world’s oceans than travel into space should not miss “Deep Sea”. Because we know even less about our own oceans than we do about certain interstellar events – Ars Electronica Solutions now wants to change that by bringing the highlights of an exhibition at the Gasometer Oberhausen into deep space 8K. “The Wave” is the name of the projection that takes viewers under the surface of the water and brings the underwater world to life. Curator Nils Sparwasser accompanies us through the depths and reveals secrets, but also the problems and challenges associated with the oceans.  

Outstanding Performances 

This year, more performances than ever will be part of the program at Deep Space 8K. A major highlight is “What is remaining”, a cooperation between the Department of Time-based and Interactive Media Art at the University of Art and Design Linz and Tanz Linz, the dance company of the Landestheater Linz. This performance in three chapters combines contemporary dance with interactive digital art and thus invites you to a unique visual and auditory experience.  

As part of “Deep Stage”, various local and international artists will perform and present short concerts, dance performances and more. In “Imagine”, the dancers use motion-capture suits and Vive 3D trackers in their performance to embody peace amidst turmoil, especially in the context of tensions in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, as well as in Taiwan. “Paragon” combines the layers of sound, projection and movement through a sensory tracking system, reflecting on space, light and darkness. “ArtEO: Environmental Data for Artists” uses sonified images of earth observation, i.e. presented acoustically, to tell the story of the earth through art, while “Eternal Voices” depicts the life and death of particles through a spatial projection that interacts with the audience.  

The Futurelab Night on Saturday is once again a highlight and in 2024 presents projects – from research reports to artistic performances – which, in line with the festival’s theme, view hope as a process that can be shaped through joint action. The projects of the Futurelab include the EU project “SHARESPACE”, in which visitors can explore the interaction between humans and avatars, and the “Data Art & Science Project”, this year focusing on the topic of rural exodus, which shows the importance of citizen science and artistic journalism as the key to taking action as a society.  

If you are interested in AI literacy, that is, learning more about the understanding and use of AI, you should also not miss “G’sungen, g’rappt & g’stanzlt” by Prof. Martina Mara and Kathrin Meyer from LIT Robopsychology. This project combines musical interludes and discussions with experts. “Peter, Paula & Panini” also deals with artificial intelligence, as its story and stage design are developed by children together with AI as part of a workshop. The performance vividly demonstrates the effects of climate change and shows how future generations can find new, inspiring forms of expression using artificial intelligence. 

Haltadefinizione’s Journey 

Following the success of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci as a gigapixel painting, Haltadefinizione 2024 brings masterpieces by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Caravaggio and Leonardo to Linz. After the presentation in Deep Space 8K, there will also be an opportunity to experience virtual reality projects in the seminar room using Apple Vision Pro headsets. Haltadefinizione’s projects underline the importance of digital cultural heritage, not least to democratize access to art.  

From space exploration and the mysteries of the deep sea to fascinating artistic performances – anyone who is ready to think beyond boundaries should pay a visit to one of the projects presented in Deep Space 8K at the Ars Electronica Center during the Ars Electronica Festival 2024. Further program highlights will be published on the official festival website in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the Ars Electronica Festival 2024 can be found here.