The Branch Magazine has won the inaugural 2021 Award for Digital Humanity for its visions of a sustainable and just internet for all.
As part of the Ars Electronica Festival, Branch Magazine is hosting the theme conference. Various panels will explore the question of how the internet should serve our collective freedom and environmental sustainability.
The research agency Forensic Architecture was also honored at the Prix Ars Electronica, in the category “Artificial Intelligence & Life Art”. It uses architectural and media analysis to investigate human rights violations and environmental crimes with an interdisciplinary team of investigators, architects, scientists, artists, filmmakers, software developers, investigative journalists, archaeologists and lawyers. As part of the Ars Electronica Festival, Forensic Architecture will hold a workshop on investigative techniques and principles, including open-source research, spatial analysis, geolocation, verification, and media analysis through a series of short tutorials and assignments.
The Linz Institute of Technology (LIT) is exploring creative convergences between art and science. The exhibits are part of the thematic exhibition “Digital && Life“.
The LIT Exhibition features interactive installations and stagings, artifacts and VR applications.
A very special tip in the theme exhibition is LUMEN by the Polish artist collective IP Group. A dark room in the basement of the Mensa building, where visitors can enter only one by one, armed solely with a headlamp. Inside are countless light poles, hanging from the ceiling, which one wanders through. Light shows and music are reactive and give the impression of dancing with the sticks. There is something magical about this room!
The headless robot dog Spot also delights visitors.
Especially artist Maja Smrekar enjoys the robot four-legged friend, as she was usually always on site with her own dog – with her own festival pass! – on site!
The Sound Park is an acoustic oasis in the park of the university campus. It invites an active listening process under trees.
There are impressions to be picked up at every turn, the atmosphere to be enjoyed, or even to jump right into the action and try things out.
Just letting the buzz work its magic is also an option.
Meanwhile, the unique Festival University continues unabated, …
…indoors and outdoors…
… every now and then there are excursions.
There is so much to discover that the evening is always here before you know it… This evening begins with the ceremonial presentation of prizes to the winners of the Prix Ars Electronica in four categories, the two main prizes of the STARTS Prize and the two new prizes, the Ars Electronica Award for Digital Humanity and the Isao Tomita Special Prize.
This year, the handover of the prizes will take place in a completely Corona-compliant non-human way…
Congratulations to all the winners!
From the award ceremony, we will go directly to the Grand Concert Night with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz conducted by Markus Poschner.
Anton Bruckner’s 9th Symphony becomes the central piece of this evening and meets the exceptional choral piece Lux Aeterna by György Ligeti, performed by the Company of Music under Johannes Hiemetsberger. Those who had already strolled through Sound Park in the afternoon were able to listen in on the rehearsal – impressive voices among the trees.
The orchestra plays in the Keplerhall, the audience sits and strolls in the park and the sounds float through the parks. Truly a unique atmosphere!
A few last impressions from a wonderful evening…
